Ex-NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater hired to coach at Miami high school
MIAMI, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who retired after the 2023 regular season, was hired as the head football coach at Miami Northwestern High School, athletic director Andre Williams said Friday morning.
"Bulls, let's welcome Coach Bridgewater," the school wrote on its Instagram account.
Bridgewater, 31, played at the school before starring at Louisville from 2011 through 2013. He was high school teammates with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper and former NFL wide receiver Eli Rogers, among others who went on to star at the collegiate and professional levels.
Bridgewater then joined the Minnesota Vikings as the No. 32 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
He played nine seasons in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in 2015. He also suited up for the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.
The veteran quarterback started 29 games through his first two seasons, but later worked mostly as a backup. He worked behind Drew Brees, Jared Goff and Tua Tagovailoa, among others, in that role.
Bridgewater totaled 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions over 79 career appearances. He went 33-32 as a starter. He also ran for 844 yards and 11 scores during his NFL tenure.
He spent his final season with the Lions, backing up Goff. Rookie Hendon Hooker was the only other quarterback on the Lions roster. Bridgewater appeared in just one game this season. He knelt twice for negative-2 yards at the end of that contest, a 42-24 Lions win over the Panthers on Oct. 8 in Detroit.
Bridgewater told reporters in August that he joined the Lions to serve as a mentor to younger players. He also said he felt like he "still had some left in the tank."
The journeyman quarterback was on the roster of two teams that reached the NFL Championship game (2018 Saints and 2023 Lions), but never appeared in a Super Bowl.
Bridgewater told the Detroit Free Press in December that he planned to retire after the 2023 season. He also said he planned to coach high school football.
