Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended from his position as a football coach at Miami Northwestern High School.
The former NFL quarterback attended the school before starring at Louisville and being selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 32nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bridgewater spent 10 years in the NFL — mainly as a backup — before finishing his career as a Detroit Lion in 2024.
He led Miami to a Class 3A state championship in his first season after taking over as coach in 2024.
But Bridgewater was suspended after allegedly providing impermissible benefits to his players.
The 32-year-old posted on Facebook that he paid for Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his stars last season.
His post asked fans to donate to help cover such expenses in 2025.
Bridgewater insisted he is still committed to his alma mater in an emotional Facebook post.
“The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you. So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE,” he wrote.
“And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem.”
Bridgewater confirmed that he self-reported the payments to Maimi bosses.
The Florida High School Athletic Association told Rivals that it is gathering more information.
“There is recent precedent for the FHSAA punishing programs for players receiving free meals and Uber rides,” reported Rivals.
“Last fall, several players at The First Academy were found to have received impermissible benefits, including a free Uber ride.
“The FHSAA hit the Royals with a two-year postseason ban and a $36,000 fine as a result.”
Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson defended the 2015 Pro Bowler on their Nightcap podcast.
“That’s why everything shouldn’t be posted you see they used his post against him,” Sharpe said.
Ocho noted that the former QB had done a brilliant job, adding that at a private school all of the meals and travel would have been provided.
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Sharpe said he understood where the school was coming from, but doubled down on the fact that Bridgewater was giving kids in the community a chance to make something of themselves.
“This is a very very slippery slope, Teddy, that we’re tread that we’re treading on because of the precedent here,” he said. “What if another NFL player or somebody of prominence becomes a coach and they fund everything?
“So I get what they’re saying, but Teddy’s just trying to give these kids an opportunity.
“He knows everybody’s not going to get a scholarship, but he’s trying to give those guys that maybe want a scholarship or have the potential or the ability to get one the best resources and the best means to be the absolute best.”
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