Northwestern football coach in hot water for paying $700 a week in Uber rides for players

Miami Northwestern High football coach Teddy Bridgewater is in apparent trouble for this week’s social media posts in which he admitted to paying for his players’ Uber rides.

On Friday, Andre Williams, Northwestern’s athletic director, would not confirm or deny that the Bulls are under investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

However, Williams, upon receiving a text message from the Herald, replied the following:

“FHSAA rules address transportation in the context of student eligibility and potential violations of impermissible benefits.

“Specifically, a coach cannot provide free or reduced-cost transportation to a student, nor can they purchase anything for a student.

“No comment other than the policy.”

Meanwhile, the Herald tried to call Bridgewater but instead got a recording that said his number has been “changed, disconnected or is no longer in service.”

Similarly, the FHSAA could not be reached for comment.

However, one well-known source who has been around South Florida high school football for decades and knows Bridgewater personally offered his opinion on the condition that he remains anonymous.

“Teddy has got no shot [at avoiding penalties],” the source said. “You can’t provide rides for your players, and he admitted he did that, and it is documented on social media.”

Last fall, the FHSAA punished an Orlando school, The First Academy, for an allegedly similar offense. According to the FHSAA, several players at The First Academy received impermissible benefits, including a free Uber ride.

The FHSAA fined the school $36,000 and banned the Royals from the playoffs for two years.

Bridgewater, 32, is a former quarterback and a hero at Northwestern, his alma mater. After Northwestern, he played for the University of Louisville, and he was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014.

His 11-year NFL career included the Vikings, Dolphins and five other teams.

Last year, he became Northwestern’s coach, leading the Bulls to a state championship on his first try.

However, on Monday, Bridgewater went on social media and asked fans to help him recover at least some of the money he has spent on his players, including $700 per week for Uber rides.

Other weekly costs, according to original reporting by the Palm Beach Post, include $2,200 for pregame meals and $1,300 for athletic-recovery services.

Then again, the source quoted earlier in this story said “nobody is feeling sorry for Teddy” because Bridgewater made $65.2 million in his NFL career, according to OverTheCap.com.

“One of two things will happen,” the source said. “Either the FHSAA penalizes Northwestern just like it did The First Academy; or the FHSAA rescinds the sanctions against The First Academy, which would clear Miami Northwestern.”