-
Jenna Laine
Talking for the primary time publicly since his teaching suspension from his highschool alma mater, Miami Northwestern, new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stated at coaching camp Wednesday that he was merely attempting to guard his gamers.
“I am protecting, and I am a father first earlier than something,” stated Bridgewater, who was suspended by the college for offering what have been deemed impermissible advantages. “These gamers grew to become my sons.”
Bridgewater stated in a Fb publish soliciting donations that he paid $14,000 to conduct a camp for gamers with “three sizzling meals a day from native black owned eating places and a snack on a few of these days,” $9,500 for matching clothes, $300 per week to color the sphere, $1,300 every week for restoration vehicles, $2,200 for the workforce’s weekly pregame meal and $700 per week on Uber rides.
Bridgewater was suspended seven days after creating the publish.
“Miami Northwestern is in a tricky neighborhood. Generally issues can occur when children are strolling house. I used to be simply attempting to guard them,” stated Bridgewater, who led this system to a state championship in 2024.
Teddy Bridgewater talks about his suspension from teaching highschool because of impermissible advantages that included Uber and meals for gamers. “Miami Northwestern is in a tricky neighborhood. Issues can occur when children are strolling house. I used to be simply attempting to guard them.” pic.twitter.com/7NH3U9bTIz
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 6, 2025
Based on highschool knowledge from U.S. Information & World Report, 75% of the scholars on the college are thought of economically deprived, with 72% qualifying without spending a dime lunch beneath the Nationwide Faculty Lunch Act.
“I am unable to change who I’m due to the foundations. I’ve an enormous coronary heart, I get it from my mother,” Bridgewater stated. “I used to be as soon as these children. I do know what it is prefer to be of their footwear. I do know what it is prefer to stroll these halls at Miami Northwestern and to have your abdomen growling and rumbling at 12 o’clock within the afternoon as a result of you did not have any lunch cash or you do not get the free lunch. So I am unable to change who I’m.”
Bridgewater nonetheless plans to assist his former gamers in no matter methods he can, calling himself the “neighborhood hope supplier.” He is hopeful his presence on the Buccaneers can function additional inspiration.
“They see a lot hope after they have a look at me,” he stated.
