Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended by his alma mater after the former NFL quarterback allegedly provided impermissible benefits to players.
Bridgewater acknowledged in a Facebook post on Sunday that he has been suspended by Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Fla., days after the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) began looking into the possibility of Bridgewater providing impermissible benefits to players. The investigation appears to have been triggered by a different post Bridgewater made on Facebook last week.
An FHSAA official confirmed to Andy Villamarzo of Rivals on Monday that Miami Northwestern is working to gather more information about the allegations against Bridgewater.
Bridgewater, who led Miami Northwestern to a state championship last season, indicated on Facebook that he is not currently employed by the school. He suggested he plans to return to coaching the Bulls despite the disciplinary action, however.
“The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you. So if im (sic) suspended from MNW im (sic) free to go to another school of my choice but IM (sic) 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.
“This is my last post about this bs,” Bridgewater wrote.
Bridgewater had a lengthy Facebook post on July 7 that seems to have led to the investigation. In that post, he asked fans to help raise money to cover expenses for players that were not being covered by Miami Northwestern. Bridgewater listed several team and player expenses he says he had to cover out of his own pocket, including $2,200 per week for pregame meals, $1,300 per week for athletic recovery services and $700 per week for Uber rides.
Bridgewater wrote in the post that “THIS ISNT A CRY OUT FOR HELP but more so a coach seeking donations.”
Villamarzo notes that there is precedent for the FHSSA to punish programs over benefits to players that are deemed impermissible. The First Academy in Orlando was fined $36,000 and banned from the postseason for two years last fall over providing players with free meals and Uber rides.
Bridgewater, 32, came out of retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions late last season. He had said his plan was to return as the head coach at Miami Northwestern in 2025, but his social media post suggested he is not an official employee of the school at the moment.
It is unclear how long Bridgewater’s suspension will last or whether he will continue to coach the Bulls this upcoming season. There has also been some talk of Bridgewater coaching in the NFL.
