Miami Northwestern Alum Teddy Bridgewater Ushers in New Era for Bulls Football
A former on-field standout at Miami Northwestern, Teddy Bridgewater is officially making his return to the South Florida program as the veteran NFL quarterback was recently named the new head coach of the Bulls. This comes after Bridgewater retired from the NFL as a player at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Bridgewater spent 10 seasons in the NFL from 2014 to 2023. He saw in-game action for nine of those seasons with six different teams: the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions. He missed all of 2016 due to an injury.
Also a one-time Pro Bowl selection during his NFL career, Bridgewater appeared in 79 total games across those nine seasons. His combined stat line includes a CMP% of 66.4% with 15,120 passing yards and a TD-to-interception ratio of 75-to-47. He also rushed for 844 yards and 11 touchdowns on 221 attempts.
Bridgewater’s professional career began when he was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Minessota Vikings after he posted a successful collegiate career with the Louisville Cardinals. He was the No. 32 overall pick in that draft.
A three-year starter at Louisville, Bridgewater led the Cardinals offense from 2011 to 2013 as one of college football’s most exciting quarterbacks and concluded his collegiate career with honors that include the 2012 Big East Offensive Player of the Year.
During his time with the Cardinals, the signal-caller held a combined CMP% of 68.4% with 9,817 passing yards and a TD-to-interception ratio of 72-to-24. He also rushed for 170 yards and six touchdowns on 226 attempts and helped lead Louisville to two 10-win seasons.
Prior to his time at Louisville, Bridgewater was considered a four-star high school prospect in the Class of 2011 out of Miami Northwestern, as well as the nation’s No. 5 dual-threat quarterback for that cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite.
A multi-year starter, Bridgewater threw for a little over 5,000 yards and more than 50 TDs during his junior and senior seasons at Miami Northwestern. He also rushed for over 800 yards and 13 TDs combined during those two years.
Now officially making the transition from player to coach, Bridgewater is set to take over a Miami Northwestern program that has been one of the best in South Florida for more than a decade.
As for what Bridgewater inherits, Miami Northwestern is coming off a 4-6 season in which the Bulls missed the 2023 Class 2M state playoffs. Outscoring opponents 256-170 for the year, each of those six losses this past season came to a playoff team: Vero Beach, Venice, Edison, Miami Columbus, Miami Central, and Booker T. Washington (Miami).
Looking ahead, however, the Bulls will return a talented roster in 2024 headlined by Calvin Russell, who is a highly-rated four-star prospect in the Class of 2026. Desmond Johnson, Lewon Lurry Jr., and Elijah Hardy are also set to return, among others.
How will the Teddy Bridgewater era at Miami Northwestern begin in 2024?
