Teddy Bridgewater Suspended as Florida HS FB Coach After Paying for Players' Ubers

Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has landed in some hot water in his high school football coaching job.

Per Andy Villamarzo of On3.com, Bridgewater confirmed in a Facebook post that he has been suspended by Miami Northwestern High School after he admitted to paying for players' Uber rides.

"The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you. So if [I'm] suspended from MNW [I'm] free to go to another school of my choice but [I'm] NOT GOING ANYWHERE," an excerpt from Bridgewater's Facebook post stated. "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."

Per Andrea Torres of Local 10 in Florida, the controversy arose when Bridgewater made a public fundraising announcement on Facebook for his alma mater's student athletes and detailed some of his personal expenses.

"Each week I spend around $700 on [Uber] fares," Bridgewater wrote as he attempted to raise $30,000 for the Be The Bridge Foundation, also revealing that he spent $14,000 on a football camp, including $2,200 for food and $9,500 for clothing. "Help me carry the load so I no longer have to take from my personal funds to keep smiles on these young men face and remind them that they matter."

On Friday, Northwestern’s athletic director, Andre Williams, did not confirm or deny that the Bulls are under investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association while speaking to Walter Villa of the Miami Herald. However, he did reveal that Bridgewater was likely to be subjected to discipline.

"FHSAA rules address transportation in the context of student eligibility and potential violations of impermissible benefits," Williams wrote in a text message. "Specifically, a coach cannot provide free or reduced-cost transportation to a student, nor can they purchase anything for a student. No comment other than the policy."

Bridgewater retired from the NFL after the 2023 season and became head coach of Miami Northwestern. In his first year at the helm, he led the Bulls to a 12-2 record and their first state championship since 2019. He briefly returned to the NFL at the end of the 2024 season, joining the Detroit Lions as a backup to quarterback Jared Goff.