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Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Deeper than football': Northwestern rallies behind suspended coach, Teddy Bridgewater
The scene outside of Miami Northwestern Senior High School on Thursday evening resembled a high school reunion — alumni dating back to the Class of 1970 donned blue and yellow t-shirts, passing out water bottles to one another to cool down from the heat. But instead of reminiscing about prom king and queen, these alumni were protesting, demanding that the school reinstate their football coach. And Miami Northwestern Senior High School has no ordinary football coach. 'Teddy [Bridgewater] means so much to this community, and it's deeper than football,' one of the protest organizers, Northwestern alum Nay Akins told the Miami Herald. 'It's about our future and our kids, everyone loves and appreciates [Teddy]. He brings hope and inspiration.' After retiring from the NFL in 2023, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater returned to his alma mater as head coach and transformed the program, helping bring the team the 2024 state championship. But in July 2025, the school suspended him for providing what the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) deemed 'impermissible benefits' to players. According to Bridgewater's own social media posts, he spent well over $100,000 during the 2024 season on Uber rides, pregame meals, and athletic recovery services, in addition to covering training camp costs and other essentials. Those benefits were not routed through the school's established programs, per FHSAA rules. Bridgewater self-reported his expenditures. According to the alumni, even after Bridgewater rejoined the NFL, coming out of retirement to sign with the Detroit Lions in December 2024, he also made sure to prioritize his hometown community. 'He's one of us,' Derrick Madry, a 1984 Northwestern alum. 'He could've gone anywhere in the world, but he chose to come back here,' Miami Northwestern Class of 1990 alum Felicia Pickard said. Pickard has three children, one of whom went to Miami Northwestern and graduated in 2021. 'The kids love him— they did phenomenal [when Teddy returned.]' The outpouring of love from the Miami Northwestern alumni was palpable on 71st Street in Liberty City, Miami. Many donned 'Coach Teddy, We Ready' t-shirts in the school's colors, drivers passing by rolled down their windows, honking and blaring music. Towards the end of the demonstration, a mobile billboard truck flashing 'Bring Teddy Back' and 'Reinstate Bridgewater' rolled by. But, according to Akins, Teddy's legacy at the school goes beyond football. Once he returned, more students worked towards college scholarships, the attendance rate for classes went up, and Miami Northwestern's graduation rate skyrocketed. He organized back-to-school and Christmas giveaways for students in need. 'A lot of people say [Teddy] left and came back, but truth be told, he never left,' Akins said. 'His heart and soul is here in the inner city.' In the early 2000s, Miami Northwestern was defined a 'dropout factory' from John Hopkins University in a study on student retention from freshman to senior year. From 2004-2006, the study found that only 41% of the entering freshman class graduated from Miami Northwestern. Now, that number is over 90 percent, according to US News and World Report. 'We need more male figures like him,' Akins said. 'If Teddy continued to be with these kids, we'd have 100 more Teddy's. After that, generations of Teddy's. It would bring this community to where it needs to be.'
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami Northwestern football players ask school board to reinstate Teddy Bridgewater
During the public forum of Wednesday's Miami-Dade school board meeting, several football players from Miami Northwestern High asked the school board to reinstate the school's head football coach, Teddy Bridgewater. They told the board members about how much Bridgewater inspired and believed in them and how he turned the football team into a family. The former Miami Dolphins quarterback was suspended by his alma mater after he posted on social media that he paid for players' Uber rides, which is considered 'impermissible benefits' by the Florida High School Athletic Association's rules. Read more: Miami Northwestern suspends football coach Teddy Bridgewater for upcoming season 'He didn't just coach football. He taught us about manhood, discipline and character,' said Miami Northwestern football player Anthony Bell during the public comment portion of Wednesday's school board meeting. 'He gave us rides when we didn't have no way to get to practice and the way going back home. He made sure we had meals. He connected us with colleges we never thought we'd have access to. He's gone above and beyond. Not because he had to but because he wanted to. He used his platform as a former NFL player to shine a spotlight on our team and because of that we are finally being seen.' 'Please don't take away one of the few people that cares about our future.' Stephen Rivera, a barber who has been volunteering to offer haircuts to student athletes at Miami Northwestern, was in tears as he stood at the podium and spoke into the microphone about Bridgewater. 'Teddy is a true leader. He elevates and gives back the way he can. We should not be suspending him, but celebrating his efforts to give kids hope,' said Rivera. Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern back to prominence last season, guiding them to their first state title since 2019 and their ninth overall. Northwestern had gone 4-6 the previous season and missed the playoffs. Student athlete Amir Day said his team would not have won the championship without Bridgewater. 'Why suspend a coach for giving back to his team?' 'He is building up young men and teaching us our value,' added Day. School board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall thanked the speakers and said she was advised by the general counsel for the school district, Walter Harvey, not to comment further as an investigation is underway by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Bridgewater confirmed the suspension via a post on his Facebook page earlier this month. The post did not specify the length of the suspension, but according to a source connected to the South Florida football scene, Bridgewater will not be allowed to coach the Bulls this coming season. During the meeting several parents also took to the podium to ask that the school board investigate Miami Northwestern's booster organization. They accused the organization of misspending money donated to support the football team. 'How much money have they raised? Who has access to it? Where are receipts and invoices?' said Latoyah David, a parent. The Florida Board of Education has already reached out over the past week to Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres demanding Bridgewater's reinstatement. A petition was also started recently by Katherine Higgs-Palmer, a 1978 graduate of Miami Northwestern, on which has drawn over 2,300 signatures as of Wednesday night. 'According to multiple reports and firsthand accounts from students and parents, Coach Bridgewater's impact extends beyond the football field,' Higgs-Palmer wrote on the petition's website. 'His dedication to improving students' lives through education and personal mentoring is unparalleled. It's imperative to recognize that his presence is crucial in guiding our young athletes towards success, both in their sports and academic endeavors. 'By reinstating Teddy Bridgewater, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that have always made Miami Northwestern great: excellence, leadership, and community. In these trying times, his leadership is needed more than ever to steer our young athletes in the right direction and continue building a legacy of achievement and integrity.'
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dan Campbell stays in touch with retired ex-Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater
Lions head coach Dan Campbell has not forgotten about former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who spent parts of two seasons in Detroit, from 2023-2024. During his media session on Monday, Day 2 of Lions training camp, Campbell was asked about his relationship with Bridgewater and if he has kept in contact with the former quarterback. Campbell didn't get too deep into details but did say the relationship is still a good one. "Teddy and I, we talk all the time - I mean, not all the time, but we communicate back and forth," Campbell said. "I've known Teddy a long time, so yeah. That's on a personal level. He's somebody I've got a lot of respect for and so just as a human being I'm going to talk to Teddy." Campbell said nothing about any sense of Lions interest in bringing Bridgewater back for another year. Bridgewater first joined the Lions in August 2023. He announced his retirement in December 2023 to become a high school football coach. About a year later, in December 2024, Bridgewater came out of retirement after his high school season ended and re-joined the Lions for their playoff run, even briefly appearing in the Divisional Playoff against the Washington Commanders after Jared Goff was briefly being evaluated for a concussion. Bridgewater was recently suspended as head coach at Miami Northwestern after providing impermissible benefits to his players, including Uber rides and meals, which he paid for himself. In total, Bridgewater played ten seasons, making stops with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints (where Campbell served as assistant head coach and tight ends coach from 2016 to 2020), Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Lions. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015. He posted a 33-32 record, throwing for 15,120 yards in 79 games played (65 starts) with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Support swells for ex-NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater after high school coaching suspension over donations
An outpouring of support is building around former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater after he was suspended from his coaching position at Miami Northwestern Senior High School — his alma mater. The decision came after Bridgewater reportedly violated state athletic rules by spending thousands of dollars of his own money to support the football team, which won the Class 3A state championship last season. Bridgewater, who has been leading the Bulls both on and off the field, posted on Facebook last week asking for donations to help fund the program. In the post, he outlined more than $100,000 in expenses he covered for his players. That included a $14,000 training camp, $1,500 a week in meals, and $700 a week for transportation costs to get players to practice. He made it clear these were not school requirements, but his contributions to support the team. According to the Florida High School Athletic Association, coaches are not permitted to provide what are considered "impermissible benefits." In response, Miami Northwestern suspended Bridgewater. Bridgewater pushed back publicly, stating on social media, "You can't suspend someone who doesn't work for you," and vowed to stay involved with the team regardless. Monique Barley, a parent and proud alum of the school, said Bridgewater was simply filling the gaps where the system falls short. "With him closing that gap of making sure that the students have a way to get to practice, pre-game meals—I don't think he did anything wrong," she said. Starex Smith, former director of parks and recreation for Miami Gardens and a longtime friend of Bridgewater, echoed that sentiment. "What Teddy is doing is not new. It's been a legacy of our community for decades," Smith said. "And all of a sudden because it's him, it's this really big deal. I think that sends a bad message to people who have good hearts." Smith said Bridgewater has a long history of generosity, citing instances where he covered entire registration fees for youth sports programs during his tenure as director. "That wasn't an easy feat. You have hundreds of kids out there, year after year," he said. The Miami-Dade County school district issued a statement standing by FHSAA rules, saying it remains committed to upholding athletic standards across all its programs. Still, many in the community feel the suspension is unjust and highlights a deeper issue—especially when private schools operate under different rules. "The rules need to change," Smith said. "The most talented kids are going to private schools, and private schools don't have to abide by any of these rules." Bridgewater's supporters say his actions were rooted in love and service, not rule-breaking. Despite the setback, the former quarterback posted that he's not going anywhere—and if he can't coach on the field, he'll volunteer from the bleachers.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Teddy Bridgewater Suspended From HS Coaching Gig
Last year, former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was generating headlines without even playing. But that's because he took a job as a coach instead. Bridgewater's foray into coaching went swimmingly, as he led Miami Northwestern to a 3A state title. However, now we're learning his role came with some drawbacks too. Advertisement According to Bridgewater himself, he was apparently suspended by Miami Northwestern High School after he reportedly paid for his athletes' Uber rides along with other 'impermissible benefits.' Those benefits included physical therapy, recovery help, pregame meals, field paint, and more. While this story may have flown under the radar, Bridgewater made it all very public by making a Facebook post about the whole scenario. 'The suspension came from MNW and it's impossible to suspend someone who doesn't work for you. So if [I'm] suspended from MNW [I'm] free to go to another school of my choice but [I'm] NOT GOING ANYWHERE. 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.'' Teddy Bridgewater Bridgewater was apparently working on a volunteer basis, not as an actual employee of the school. That's where some of the confusion came in. Either way, as he stated, Bridgewater won't be backing down. If anything, he seems to be even further committed to helping MNW, even if it's not from their own sideline. Advertisement Bridgewater previously announced his retirement from the NFL after the 2023 season, but later returned in 2024 for the Detroit Lions. He remains unsigned this offseason, and it remains to be seen whether the former first-round pick is officially done with the NFL or not. Still just 32 years old, he presumably would still be able to land a roster spot with ease. Related: 5 best Jauan Jennings trade landing spots before training camp Related Headlines
