After the Detroit Lions’ season came to an end with a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game, head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a poignant moment. Bridgewater had earlier declared his retirement from football, effective at the end of the season, expressing his intention to transition into coaching. Speculation swirled that he would pursue opportunities in South Florida, where his NFL career began to flourish. Now, reports confirm that Bridgewater has been appointed as the new head football coach at Miami.
The Bulls kept their head coaching position vacant after letting go of Michaelee Harris following a single season. Speculation has been ongoing for months suggesting that Bridgewater was the preferred candidate for the position, but the university remained silent, likely waiting for the Lions’ season to end.
Bridgewater, 31, was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 and had a strong start to his career until it got derailed by a torn ACL/dislocated knee suffered in training camp prior to the 2016 season.
The ex-Northwestern quarterback has seen action with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Carolina Panthers. Bridgewater boasts 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns throughout his NFL tenure.
During his time with the Bulls in high school, Bridgewater amassed 6,712 passing yards and 70 touchdowns across three seasons. He’s been spotted at high school games, occasionally arriving on a bicycle, demonstrating his backing for South Florida’s young athletes. His efforts in the region have garnered recognition.
In recognition of Bridgewater’s achievements and his contributions to the community, the City of Miami Gardens decided to name the football field at Bunche Park as Teddy Bridgewater Field. Reflecting on this honor, Bridgewater expressed that being Theodore Bridgewater outside of football provided him with perspective and purpose beyond being a starter in the game. He emphasized that football is merely a platform for his larger purpose.
