South Florida Football Legend Teddy Bridgewater Set to Lead Miami Northwestern Bulls as Head Coach

Renowned former NFL quarterback and South Florida high school football icon, Teddy Bridgewater, unveiled his plans in December to retire at the end of the NFL season. Shortly after the Detroit Lions concluded their season with a close 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game, Bridgewater seamlessly transitioned to the coaching realm within a week.

It had been widely rumored for months that Bridgewater was destined to become the next head coach for his alma mater, the Miami Northwestern Bulls. The rumors have now been put to rest with a report confirming Bridgewater’s appointment as the new head football coach at Miami Northwestern High School. The announcement was made through The Portal 305 on Instagram. The coaching position had been vacant since the departure of former alumnus Michaelee Harris after just one season, and Bridgewater’s name had been thrown into the ring among South Florida circles as the top choice. The school, however, maintained its professionalism, choosing to wait for the culmination of Bridgewater’s NFL season and his commitment with the Lions.

At 31 years old, Bridgewater, originally a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, faced a remarkable start to his NFL career until a setback in the form of a torn ACL/dislocated knee during training camp before the 2016 season. Throughout his NFL journey, spanning stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, and finally the Detroit Lions, Bridgewater amassed a total of 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns.

Recognized as a four-star recruit, Bridgewater earned the distinction of being the nation’s sixth-best dual-threat quarterback prospect by Rivals.com. He participated in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Initially committing to the University of Miami in June 2010, Bridgewater later shifted allegiance to the University of Louisville after the firing of Miami head coach Randy Shannon in November 2010. His collegiate career with the Louisville Cardinals saw Bridgewater accumulate impressive statistics, including 9,817 passing yards, 72 passing touchdowns, a 68.4% completion rate, and six rushing touchdowns.

During his high school tenure with the Miami Northwestern Bulls, Bridgewater took the reins as the starting quarterback in his sophomore year, succeeding Jacory Harris. He had big shoes to fill, leading a team that had just been crowned the 2007 national champions by USA Today. Over three seasons, Bridgewater showcased his exceptional talent by throwing for 6,712 yards and 70 touchdown passes. The City of Miami Gardens acknowledged Bridgewater’s outstanding achievements and community contributions by bestowing the honor of naming the football field at Bunche Park “Teddy Bridgewater Field.”