Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy Bridgewater's Biography

Theodore Edmond Bridgewater Jr., popularly known as Teddy Bridgewater, is a revered figure in American football circles. His career in American football spanned over 10 years in one of the most renowned football leagues, the National Football League (NFL). He was a potent quarterback renowned for his skill and tenacity. Born on November 10, 1992, Teddy Bridgewater’s football passion would later see him retire and serve as a head coach at his former high school, Miami Northwestern.

Bridgewater’s life in football started in his early days in Miami, where he was born and raised. As a student at Miami Northwestern high school, his talents saw him rise to be a formidable force in football. After high school, Bridgewater had a stint at college football, where he played for Louisville Cardinals and led the team to win the 2013 Sugar Bowl against formidable opponents, the Florida Gators. His efforts did not go unnoticed as he was picked in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

In his second season, Bridgewater played an instrumental role in ensuring that the Vikings clinched the NFC North division title. His efforts saw him earn Pro Bowl honors, sinking his name into the archives of football legends. An unfortunate incident occurred when the Vikings narrowly lost their 2015 Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks. A severe leg injury made matters worse, limiting his appearances in games over the next two years.

When he was a free agent after the 2017 season ended, Bridgewater briefly joined the New York Jets for the 2018 season. His next stop was at the New Orleans Saints in 2019 where he became the team’s backup quarterback. However, his football journey did not end there. He was also the starting quarterback for Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. In 2022, he signed with the Miami Dolphins as a backup before ultimately joining the Detroit Lions in 2023. He called time on his playing career after the 2023 season, and his love for football saw him become the head coach at Miami Northwestern.

Bridgewater was born to Teddy Bridgewater Sr. and Rose Murphy. His footballing prowess was evident right from high school where he replaced Jacory Harris as the starting quarterback. His capability shone through as he held the reins of a team that had been previously named the 2007 national champions by USA Today. Bridgewater completed 97 of 160 attempts for 1,560 yards throwing 16 touchdowns with three interceptions in his sophomore year. However, Northwestern did not clinch the title that season falling short to Seminole High School.

Bridgewater’s stats improved in his junior year with 2,546 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was named second-team All-State for 6A classification and first-team All-County by the Miami Herald. A look at his senior year shows him amassing 2,606 passing yards and 22 touchdowns despite dealing with an injury. Bridgewater was regarded as a four-star recruit and was the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback in the nation according to Rivals.com.

With his remarkable high school stats, he had initially committed to the University of Miami in 2010, but after the firing of Miami head coach Randy Shannon, he switched to the University of Louisville.

At Louisville, Bridgewater proved to be a high-performing athlete. As a freshman in 2011, he started as a backup to Will Stein but by the fourth game, he was already the starter. He completed the season with 2,129 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His performance earned him the accolade of Big East Rookie of the year.

During his sophomore year in 2012, he started 11 of 12 regular-season games. His performance during the season was impressive as he managed to complete 267-of-387 passes totaling 3,452 yards with 25 touchdowns. He was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. His character, coupled with his football prowess, js what made him one of the prospective top picks in the 2014 NFL draft together with Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel.

Bridgewater’s rookie year was a tale of remarkable feats. He completed the year with 2,919 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Bridgewater was named the quarterback of the 2014 NFL All-Rookie team by the Pro Football Writers of America and won the 2014 Pepsi Rookie of the Year award.

His second year with the Minnesota Vikings had him complete the season with 3,231 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. The team also won the NFC North Division Title in week 17 against the Packers.

Unfortunately, during a team practice in 2016, Bridgewater suffered an ACL tear along with other structural damages which led to him missing the 2016 season. He later made a recovery and contributed his knowledge of the game to his home city by taking up a coaching role in his former high school, Miami Northwestern.

Overall, Bridgewater’s life and career in American football present a success story. His resilience, courage, and unyielding spirit have seen him leave a lasting legacy in NFL and contributed significantly to the teams he has played for.