Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wrapped up his first spring practice period as the head football coach at Miami Northwestern Senior High School with a scrimmage on Thursday night. Tyreek Hill pulled up to watch his former teammate in action and to provide some encouragement to the players.
It was a cool moment between former teammates.
Hill, who played with Bridgewater on the Dolphins, essentially spent the evening as an assistant coach. The five-time First-Team All-Pro wide receiver was right in the action to help the young athletes master their craft.
Bridgewater, the former No. 32 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, threw for more than 15,000 yards and 75 touchdowns in an impressive decade-long career. Injuries kept him from reaching his full potential but it was still a great run for a great player.
As good as he was on the field, Bridgewater’s biggest value was as a leader, teacher and mentor. Many of his former teammates have praised him for his desire to make them better.
Others often came before self, as made clear in a quote from Bridgewater during his final season.
Man, that’s just me my entire life, just paying it forward. Because I know I won’t play this game forever. There are certain things in life I can’t do forever, so it’s like, man, how can I leave an everlasting impact? How can I prepare the next wave of athletes for what’s in store?
It’s kind of my gift to life. Honestly, just pouring into the younger athletes, the younger players on the team. That’s how I stay blessed, I feel. That’s how I keep getting opportunities, of course outside of what I’m able to do as a football player […]
Those are the life trophies I get. Those are the plaques I get that you don’t see on the walls. It just means a lot for me.
— Teddy Bridgewater
In parallel with that sentiment, the 31-year-old took over as head coach at his alma mater shortly after retirement. Miami Northwestern Senior hired him back in February. It got spring ball started at the beginning of the month as the new era got underway.
Bridgewater and the Bulls wrapped up their 10-day practice period with a scrimmage on Thursday night. The first-year head coach even took over at quarterback for one drive, just to prove he’s still got it.
And sure enough, he does!
Bridgewater led the offense to the end zone in three plays. That’s all it took for him to score!
As a senior at the program he now leads, Bridgewater threw for 2,606 yards and 22 touchdowns despite missing parts of the season with an MCL injury. He also rushed for 223 yards and eight more scores.
Even though it has been quite some time since he was in high school, Teddy Bridgewater picked up right where he left off!