‘This is home.’ Miami native Teddy Bridgewater returns to play for hometown Dolphins
When Teddy Bridgewater was just a tyke, what is now known as Hard Rock Stadium not only housed the Dolphins and Marlins but drove his aspirations.
“When you grow up here, you can’t miss the stadium,” he said Monday. “From the days when the Marlins played baseball in the stadium, I thought I was either going to be a baseball player for the Marlins or a football player for the Dolphins at some point because that was so much motivation and it’s still motivation for so many young children playing sports in South Florida today. You ride on the Turnpike, you can’t miss the stadium. You can be all the way down south by the airport on 836 and you can see the stadium still. It was always like, ‘Man, one day. One day.’”
“One day” turned into reality for Bridgewater on Monday, as he was one of eight free-agent signings the Dolphins officially introduced. Signing with the Dolphins took on an even more special meaning though for Bridgewater, a Miami Northwestern Senior High alum whose football career was birthed in Liberty City, home of countless college and professional sports stars.
“I’m just happy to be back home, man,” said Bridgewater, who signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with an additional $3.5 million available through incentives. “So many memories. So many special moments in my sports career happened in South Florida and South Florida played a huge role in me developing the mindset that I have as an athlete, as a man in society. Of course, you remember the Friday nights at Traz Powell Stadium competing against Miami Central, Carol City and Booker T and just the pageantry. You realize how passionate how everyone is about sports down here.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Bridgewater, 29, that almost came to fruition in 2019 when the Dolphins pitched him on becoming their starting quarterback only to see him re-signed with the New Orleans Saints. This time, Bridgewater returns to Miami as the expected backup to Tua Tagovailoa, though he declined to specifically answer questions about his future role.
“Being from South Florida, this is home,” he said. “I get to sleep in my own bed every night. Not have to find somewhere to live. My son is here. My family is here. It was pretty much smooth and there wasn’t too much to decide on. The football side will always take care of itself. I’m just looking forward to this opportunity that I have.”
An eight-year player and one-time Pro Bowler who has made 63 starts with four teams, including 14 with the Denver Broncos last season, Bridgewater brings the veteran experience coach Mike McDaniel coveted in the team’s next backup. His NFL journey, at one point in jeopardy because of a severe leg injury while with the Minnesota Vikings, has given him a greater appreciation for his latest landing spot.
And while he’s looking forward to helping his hometown team on the field, Bridgewater, who has remained active in the community and often returned to watch his alma mater play high school football games, hopes to continue to make just as big of an impact off the field, inspiring South Florida athletes just as he once was.
“The message hasn’t changed. It’s dream big,” Bridgewater said. “No dream is too big. I’m happy that I get to be home. I always tell myself that the more that they see you in the flesh, the more it means to them. Oftentimes you see your idol on TV and it’s like, ‘Man, okay that’s my idol.’ To see them in the flesh, to see that you walk the same sidewalks, play street football in the same streets, play in the same parks, went to the same middle schools, high schools, that’s huge for a lot of children and teenagers. Like I said, first and foremost I’m home to be a football player but I get the opportunity to continue to make an impact in the community.”
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 5:15 PM.
