Miami Northwestern coach Teddy Bridgewater won a state title. Now, he wants an NFL return
Teddy Bridgewater already conquered the Florida high school football circuit. Now, he has his eyes set on the NFL.
Less than a week after leading his alma mater to a state championship as a head coach, the Miami Northwestern High graduate told NFL Network that he wanted another shot to play quarterback professionally.
“That’s the plan,” the 32-year-old Bridgewater told NFL insiders lan Rapoport and Tom Pelissero on Tuesday. “My team knows that’s the plan. We wanted to win a state championship and then coach goes back to the league, see what happens, and then come back February in the offseason, continue coaching high school football. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Bridgewater retired at the end of the 2023 NFL season and immediately became head coach of his Miami Northwestern Bulls. At the time, he appeared comfortable with his decision.
“Whatever was meant for me, it played out the exact way it was meant,” Bridgewater said in December 2023. And I’m still with that mindset every day and I’m just really appreciative that I’m in Year 10, I tell everyone this is my last year, so I’m in my final year and I’m just enjoying it all, man.”
A former University of Louisville Cardinal, Bridgewater was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played for several teams across his 10 year career including the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.
The Vikings seemingly had found their franchise quarterback after Bridgewater made the Pro Bowl in 2015, however, a ACL injury cost him the 2016 season. He subsequently made only six starts between the 2017-2019 seasons.
Bridgewater tried to revive his career in Carolina and Denver, starting 29 games for both teams over the next two seasons before signing with the Dolphins ahead of the 2022 seasons. He started two games in Miami and spent the 2023 season with the Lions.
Across his career, Bridgewater has completed roughly 66% of his passes for more than 15,000 yard. He has thrown 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in addition to rushing for nearly 850 yards. Bridgewater also added another 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Already a legend on Northwest 71st Street, Bridgewater became even further entrenched in Miami Northwestern lore after a resounding 41-0 victory over Raines in the Division 3A Florida High School Athletic Association title game.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 9:05 PM.
