Former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater Gets Honest About Polarizing Decision

The Minnesota Vikings have quarterback concerns and suspension issues to navigate as their preseason opener against the Houston Texans approaches. But former Vikings firdt-round pick Teddy Bridgewater is navigating both on his own.

Bridgewater, who turns 33 in November and played for the Detroit Lions in 2024, is returning to the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2025 season.

He is also mired in a controversial suspension after leading his high school alma mater to a title.

“I’m just a cheerful guy, a cheerful giver as well, and I’m protective. I’m a father first before anything. And when I decided to coach, those players became my sons, and I just want to make sure that I protect them in the best way that I can, and I think that’s what came about. Minding my blessings in a tough neighborhood. And sometimes, things can happen when the kids are walking home, and things like that,” Bridgewater told ESPN’s Jenna Laine on August 6.

“I just tried to protect them. Give them rides home instead of having to take those dangerous walks. But some people continue to see me for the person that I’ve been from the time I arrived in the NFL, to the time that I arrived at the University of Louisville. Just a humble guy, with a good heart, and a cheerful giver.”

Bridgewater said the ordeal, brought about due to impermissible benefits he gave to his players, has been “very difficult to navigate. Bridgewater spent $23,500 plus an additional $3,570 in weekly charges, which the QB insisted his camp reported.

Former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater Suspended Over Impermissible Benefits for HS Team

Bridgewater posted on Facebook via his “Be Bridge Foundation” in July, requesting financial support to cover some of the costs he had incurred for his players, whom he led to their first state championship in his first year at the helm.

They included $14,000 for training camp and $9,500 for pride sets (team apparel).

That is believed to have been the impetus for his suspension. Bridgewater also announced the decision on social media, saying that the decision came from the school rather than the district.

Bridgewater clarified that he was not an employee of the school and could therefore not receive a suspension. He also said that he would resort to volunteer coaching, as he did in 2018 and 2019, if need be.

Instead, he heads back to the NFL and hopes to continue inspiring the “great group of kids.”

Teddy Bridgewater Still Looking to Motivate Future Generations

The Vikings and Bucaneers will not meet in the 2025 regular season, so it will take a playoff run for both teams for Bridgewater to possibly return to his old stomping grounds.

For now, Bridgwater remains focused on giving back any way that he can.

“They see so much hope when they look at me, and I always said it’s food for my soul. This the way that I feed my soul, and [it] allows me to stay young, being around those kids. I think now that I’m back in the league, it’s actually gonne be extra motivation for them. Because they’ll get to play a game on Friday night and then probably drive across the state and come watch the Bucs play and see Coach on the sidelines,” Bridgewater told Laine.

“It’s like, ‘Man, Coach is just continuing to serve as motivation and continue to influence in every way possible. He’s showing us that he can make it to the NFL, he’s showing us that he can coach, he’s showing us that there’s different avenues of life that you can take. And, hopefully, I’m hoping that they’ll take notice of that.”

Asked about using his story, which includes a career-altering knee injury with the Vikings, as an example of perseverance, Bridgewater said, “Definitely. Life throws in different obstacles. You just gotta put your hard hat on and keep pressing on.”