The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to earn their second straight victory to open the 2025 campaign when they take the field against the Houston Texans in Week 2. While they weren’t perfect in their Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, things are going well for the Buccaneers as a whole. The same may not be true for backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, though.
Bridgewater latched on with the Bucs as their backup for Baker Mayfield late in the offseason, and his reason for returning to the NFL quickly became clear. After initially retiring from football and transitioning into coaching high school football, Bridgewater was suspended from his position with Miami Northwestern High School, and his punishment for his role in a strange controversy was recently revealed.
Teddy Bridgewater Punished for Role in High School Football Controversy
After spending the 2023 season with the Detroit Lions, Bridgewater announced his intention to retire from the NFL. However, he ended up returning to the Lions late in the 2024 campaign to help backup Jared Goff under center. With Bridgewater working as a football coach for Miami Northwestern, though, it remained to be seen if he would continue playing in the pros in 2025 and beyond.
Early in August, Bridgewater abruptly resigned as the school’s coach, and he ended up quickly signing with the Buccaneers in free agency. It was revealed that Bridgewater’s decision to resign was caused by a surprise suspension from the Florida High School Athletic Association due to the former Pro Bowler providing impermissible benefits to his players.
According to reports, Bridgewater provided Uber rides, meals, and recovery services for his players, and while it was done in good faith, it is viewed as an advantage for his team. On Friday, it was revealed that Bridgewater had been suspended for the rest of Miami Northwestern’s 2025 campaign.
Former Miami Northwestern High School football coach Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended for the rest of the 2025-26 school year for providing impermissible benefits,” Jon Santucci of The Palm Beach Post reported. “The Florida High School Athletic Association announced the suspension on Sept. 12. Northwestern handed down the suspension, which was approved by the FHSAA.”
Teddy Bridgewater Finds New Home with Buccaneers in 2025
Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesTeddy Bridgewater is playing for the Buccaneers, but his heart is with his high school players at Miami Northwestern.
Bridgewater seemed to know that a suspension was coming for him, which is likely why he opted to latch on with Tampa Bay for the 2025 season. He will spend his suspension from Miami Northwestern working as Mayfield’s backup for the Buccaneers, before making a decision on what his future holds after the year.
While it may seem like Bridgewater could simply return to Miami Northwestern, he resigned as their head coach, so that may not exactly be a guarantee. Plus, he could decide he wants to continue his playing career, although that will likely be contingent on whether or not teams are interested in him. In the immediate future, Bridgewater’s main goal will be to help his squad find a way to beat the Texans on Monday Night Football in Week 2.
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater Learns Fate in High School Football Controversy