Former Pro Bowl QB lands new job at legendary high school

Teddy Bridgewater just finished what will be his final season in the NFL, but the veteran quarterback is not walking away from the game of football.

Bridgewater said back in December that he planned to retire at the end of the season and coach high school football. The 31-year-old is doing just that, as he has been named the coach at Miami Northwestern High School in South Florida. The school is Bridgewater’s alma mater.

The news was first reported by The Portal 305. Miami Northwestern athletic director Andre Williams later confirmed the hire to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

“Teddy, he’s never left the school,” Williams said. “Since he’s been in the NFL the last 10 years and certainly in college, he was always at the school during the offseason, working out with the young men, giving them his knowledge of the game. He’s never left the school, so we’re just officially bringing him back as the head coach.”

Bridgewater threw for 6,712 yards and 70 touchdowns at Miami Northwestern before he accepted a scholarship to play at Louisville. His success at the collegiate level led to him being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round in 2014.

Miami Northwestern has been a hotbed for NFL talent throughout the years. Bridgewater and NFL stars Amari Cooper and Lavonte David played high school ball at Miami Northwestern. Other notable alumni include Eli Rogers, Deandre Baker and Tutu Atwell.

Bridgewater became a starter as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl in his second season in 2015. He then suffered a devastating knee injury during practice ahead of the 2016 season. He missed nearly two full seasons and was never the same after that.

Bridgewater also had brief stints in New Orleans, Carolina, Denver and Miami before joining the Lions as a backup this season.