Teddy Bridgewater retired from the NFL in 2023 after 10 seasons, in part to focus on his two sons. In his eyes, he inherited many more when he took over as the head coach of his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, in his native South Florida.
"I'm protective, and I'm a father first before anything," a now-32-year-old Bridgewater told reporters Wednesday during his first media appearance since signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week.
"When I decided to coach, those players became my sons. And I want to make sure that I just protect them in the best way that I can."
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Being what Bridgewater calls "a cheerful giver" unfortunately ran him into trouble with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).
Bridgewater revealed on Facebook in July that he covered Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his players last season, a year that culminated in Miami Northwestern winning a Florida Class 3A state championship.
In that post, Bridgewater asked fans to donate and help him take care of those expenses this time around.
Word apparently got to the FHSAA, and then Miami Northwestern had to respond, ultimately suspending Bridgewater from coaching for allegedly providing impermissible benefits to his players.
Bridgewater, who initially unretired from the NFL to rejoin the Detroit Lions late last season, is spending the 2025 season in the Bucs' quarterback room as a veteran voice and experienced backup.
The former first-round draft pick reflected Wednesday on his suspension from Miami Northwestern, and on his motivation behind doing what he did to help his players last year.
"Not enough blessings in tough neighborhood, and sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home and different things like that," Bridgewater said.
"I just try to protect them, give them a ride home instead of them having to take those dangerous walks. But I just want people to continue to see me for the person that I've been, from the time I arrived in the NFL, from the time that I arrived at the University of Louisville. Just a humble guy with a good heart and a cheerful giver."
According to the U.S. News & World Report, 75% of students at Miami Northwestern are considered "economically disadvantaged" and 72% qualify for the "Free Lunch Program" under the National School Lunch Act.
Bridgewater was asked Wednesday about the possibility of changes to FHSAA rules.
"I guess in due time those changes will happen," he said. "But until then, man, I can't change who I am because of the rules. I have a big heart. I get it from my mom. And I just always said that I was once those kids. I know what it's like to be in their shoes. I know what it's like to walk those halls at Miami Northwestern and to have your stomach growling and rumbling at 12 o'clock in the afternoon because you didn't have any lunch money or you don't get the free lunch. So I can't change who I am. I'll still give to those kids just because, man, I know what it's like. When I say 'give,' it's not even about money. It's about my time and my presence. Because a lot of times you see your idol on TV and it's like, 'Man, I wonder what it's like to be that person.' But when they see me in the flesh, and they see how I'm an open-spirited person and I'm happy I'm around them and they fit right in with me and I fit in with them — it's just hope."
When Bridgewater mentioned "hope," he was referring to the source of inspiration he feels he provides to students at Miami Northwestern.
He called his experience with those kids as "the way that I feed my soul."
"I think now that I'm back in the league, there's actually going to be extra motivation for them as well because they'll play a game on Friday night and probably get to drive across the state and come watch the Bucs win and see coach on the sidelines," Bridgewater said.
"So it's like, 'Man, Coach is just continuing to just serve as motivation and continuing to influence us in every way possible. He's showing us that he can make it to the NFL. He's showing us that he can coach, he's showing us that there are different avenues of life that you can take.' And I'm hoping that they take notice of that."
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