Latest news with #TeddyBridgewater
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- 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.'
Black America Web
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Black America Web
Teddy Bridgewater Suspended From HS Coaching Job For Buying Players Uber Rides & Food, Social Media Upset
Source: Michael Reaves / Getty Teddy Bridgewater did the right thing after his 10-year NFL career, as he returned to his high school football team to help the next generation fulfill their dreams, but now he's being penalized for it. The one-time Pro Bowler has been fired from his head coaching job at his alma mater, Miami Northwestern Senior High School, for allegedly violating Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rules regarding 'impermissible benefits.' According to Sports Illustrated , he reportedly spent $70,000 of his own money to ensure his players had what they needed throughout the season. The staggering amount he spent on the boys wasn't a secret and was something he shared on Facebook earlier this month when he asked for donations from the community to help pitch in so he'd ' no longer have to take from my personal funds to keep smiles on these young men face and remind them that they matter.' In the lengthy post, he discusses spending $700 a week on Uber rides, $1,500 a week on catered meals, $9,500 on pride uniforms, $14,000 on a training camp, and $1,300 a week on recovery trucks. So, h e's asking for the community to donate to the team through his Be Bridge Foundation. He ends the message with, 'These are all things I choose to do on my own and are not requirements for the boys to have according to the rule makers and those who make the decisions at MNW.' Once Bridgewater was made aware of the suspension, he immediately took to social media, blaming Associate Head Coach Verne Louis. He also stated that a suspension is technically not possible because he's not an actual employee of the school. 'Damn people done caused all this confusion. Got a phone call tonight and it's no real investigation going on.. I told you I have to be an employee to be investigated. Now the paperwork thing still stands but there was no investigation… We SELF REPORTED,' he wrote on social media. 'Verne and his Administrative homeboys want me gone apparently and tried to hire one of my dawgs like bro wasn't gone lace me up… 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 also doesn't plan on leaving the program, saying he'll 'volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem.' Social media is upset that a rule intended to prevent wealthy schools from negatively influencing students is being enforced, despite Bridgewater's intentions being pure. See the reactions below. Teddy Bridgewater Suspended From HS Coaching Job For Buying Players Uber Rides & Food, Social Media Upset was originally published on
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.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Teddy Bridgewater earns national praise after shocking Florida school punishment
Teddy Bridgewater earns national praise after shocking Florida school punishment (Image Via X) In Miami, Florida, Teddy Bridgewater is making headlines again. Not for his NFL career, but for what he did as a high school coach. Teddy Bridgewater was suspended from his coaching position at Miami Northwestern Senior High School on July 14, 2025. The only reason: He paid for rides, meals, and recovery services for his student-athletes during the 2024 season, in effort to help kids and that's it. That same act earned a suspension from an athletic department. However, instead of being condemned by the public or football world, Teddy Bridgewater is being applauded by NFL players, coaches, and fans across America. Teddy Bridgewater suspended after helping student-athletes with personal funds Miami Northwestern High School publicly announced the suspension of Teddy Bridgewater, 32, when he discovered that he had been suspended for saying that he financially supported the team. The public announcement of his suspension from the team took place on July 14, 2025, after the FHSAA investigated and went through all of the proper protocol. — _mlfootball (@_mlfootball) Teddy Bridgewater gave his players Uber rides, food before games, and recovery tools, and he paid for all of these things personally out of his own pocket. He stated these things on Facebook, saying,'I've always done what's right for the kids. I don't regret a thing.' Although not officially on school payroll, he was still suspended for violating the FHSAA's rules on providing benefits. Bridgewater had led the team to a state title in 2024 and returned to the NFL with the Detroit Lions for the 2023 season. His coaching role was something he took seriously, often calling it his 'real purpose' after football. Also Read: Teddy Bridgewater Suspension Sparks Outrage After Selfless Act To Help Struggling Players Teddy Bridgewater receives public support from NFL stars and fans Following the suspension, many NFL figures stood up for Teddy Bridgewater. Former wide receiver Chad Johnson posted on X, 'That's not a violation, that's love.' Robert Griffin III also said, 'You don't punish love and leadership.' Shannon Sharpe called the punishment a 'slippery slope,' warning that rules like this could stop athletes from giving back to their communities. Fans online also defended Teddy Bridgewater. One comment read, 'How can helping kids ever be wrong?' On social media, hashtags like #LetTeddyCoach started trending. Though suspended, Teddy Bridgewater shared that he still plans to support the team however he can even from the stands. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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
