Former NFL quarterback and current high school football coach Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended by Miami Northwestern Senior High School after admitting that he paid out of pocket for his players’ transportation, meals, and recovery services during the 2024 season.
Bridgewater, 32, who returned to coach his alma mater and led them to a Class 3A state championship in his first season, confirmed the suspension in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you,” he wrote. “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.”
Bridgewater’s suspension stems from what are considered “impermissible benefits” under Florida high school athletics regulations. Earlier this month, he publicly shared that he personally paid for Uber rides, team meals, and other support services for his players.
In that same post, he asked the community for help, encouraging donations to help offset these types of costs for the upcoming season. According to Bridgewater, he self-reported these actions to the school, indicating transparency, not concealment.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) confirmed to Rivals on Monday that it is gathering more information regarding the situation.
While some are questioning whether the payments gave Miami Northwestern a competitive advantage, others argue that Bridgewater’s actions were less about gaming the system and more about ensuring his players had access to basic needs, rides to practice, meals after long days, and tools to take care of their bodies.
The controversy raises broader questions about what support high school athletes are allowed to receive and what happens when that support comes from someone trying to fill institutional gaps.
Bridgewater, a Miami native, has long been praised for giving back to his community. After a decade in the NFL, playing for teams including the Vikings, Saints, Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins, and Lions, he returned to coaching at Miami Northwestern in 2024.
He briefly rejoined the NFL later that year, signing with the Detroit Lions as Jared Goff’s backup during their playoff run. He made a single appearance, completing one pass for three yards in a loss to the Commanders.
Photo Credit: Instagram – Teddyb_h20
