After playing at the highest level of the game, former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater announced in December that his 2023 season with the Detroit Lions would be his last. The Lions’ season came to an end last week when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, effectively ending both Bridgewater’s career and the team’s season.
The Portal 305 on Friday morning broke the news that Bridgewater was named the high school football head coach of his alma mater Miami Northwestern. The 1-time Pro Bowler took a job to return to his roots.
Former NFL and Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been hired as the new coach at Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater, a school official confirmed to ESPN. Bridgewater retired from the NFL in December. His hiring was first reported by The Portal 305.
Former Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater overcame the odds and spent a decade in the NFL
The Miami native starred at Louisville before being selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Bridgewater was immediately thrown into the fire as a rookie after then-starter Matt Cassell suffered a significant foot injury.
Bridgewater enjoyed his most successful season during his sophomore year, when he led Minnesota to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. His first and only Pro Bowl season saw him throw for 3,221 yards with 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
However, a career-threatening leg injury kept Bridgewater out for all but one game during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He even nearly lost his leg following the incident.
But Bridgewater was able to slowly work his way back from injury, landing a backup role with the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and 2019. He defied the odds and served as the full-time starter for the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos during the next two seasons.
Teddy Bridgewater sounded like a man who knew it was time after lone season with the Detroit Lions
Ending his career with two stops on his hometown Miami Dolphins and the underdog Lions squad in 2022 and 2023 respectively felt like the fitting way to go. Bridgewater put his career — and his life — into perspective when he spoke to the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett about his decision to retire back in December.
“I was young and I was trapped in this lifestyle thinking that I was a football player 24-7, and when I got hurt I realized that I’m only a football player for three hours on a Sunday afternoon,” Bridgewater told Birkett. “Outside of that, I’m Theodore Bridgewater, so it just put everything into perspective and it really helped me not even have to think about not being a starter (anymore). It’s like, ‘Man, I still got purpose.’ And my purpose is bigger than the game of football. Football is just a platform that I have.”
Bridgewater knows that he’s more than just a football player. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t use the game to make an impact going forward.
