'Teddy Bridgewater Act' Becomes Florida Law, Allows HS Coaches to Financially Support Athletes

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's tenure as a high school football coach inspired a new Florida bill that was recently signed into law.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 58, also known as the "Teddy Bridgewater Act," into law on Friday, via On3.com's Andy Villamarzo (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).

The law allows head coaches of middle school and high school teams to spend up to $15,000 of their own funds to help provide student-athletes with food, transportation and recovery services.

Bridgewater previously served as Miami Northwestern High School's football head coach before he was suspended after admitting to paying for players' Uber rides.

The former first-round pick initially played in the NFL from 2014-23 before retiring and becoming head coach of Miami Northwestern.

Bridgewater was immediately successful in his coaching role, helping the team finish with a 12-2 record and capture a Division 3A Florida High School Athletic Association title.

He was eventually suspended for the 2025-26 school year. Bridgewater asked Northwestern fans in a Facebook post that was later deleted to help him cover team expenses that were not being paid for by the school including $700 per week for Uber rides, $1,300 per week for athletic recovery services and $2,200 per week for pre-game meals during the season (via Villamarzo).

The 33-year-old previously discussed the situation in Aug. 2025.

"I'm a protector," Bridgewater told reporters at the time. "I'm a father first before anything, and when I decided to coach, those players became my sons, and I wanted to make sure that I just protect them in the best way that I can. I think that's what came about. Miami Northwestern is in a tough neighborhood. Sometimes, things can happen when kids are walking home and things like that. I was just trying to protect them."

He eventually returned to the NFL as a backup quarterback for the Lions to finish the 2024 season before spending his 2025 campaign as a reserve option for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bridgewater returned to Detroit in free agency this offseason, signing with the team on March 23.

As the veteran signal-caller prepares for next season, his prior head coaching tenure is now making it easier for coaches to provide assistance to their players in Florida.