The Florida Senate has unanimously passed the Teddy Bridgewater Act, a bill that would allow high school coaches to use personal funds to support student-athletes with transportation, food, and recovery services. The bill, which was inspired by NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s experience as a high school coach, is now headed to the House of Representatives.
Teddy Bridgewater, the 33-year-old NFL quarterback, has been making headlines for his work off the field as a high school coach. Last year, he was suspended by his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, for using impermissible funds on the team. Now, a bill named after him, the Teddy Bridgewater Act, has been passed by the Florida Senate and is on its way to becoming law.
The bill, which was passed unanimously by the Senate, would allow high school coaches to use up to $15,000 of personal funds to support student-athletes with things like transportation and food. The bill’s language indicates that the coaches must act in good faith and cannot spend more than $15,000 per year. Any use of funds must be reported, and the act would cover public K-12 schools in Florida.
What is the Teddy Bridgewater Act?
The Teddy Bridgewater Act, officially known as Senate Bill 178, is a bill designed to allow high school coaches to use personal funds to support student-athletes with transportation, food, and recovery services. The bill’s language indicates that the coaches must act in good faith and cannot spend more than $15,000 per year.
Is the Teddy Bridgewater Act signed into law?
The Teddy Bridgewater Act has not become law yet in Florida. It passed the state’s Senate unanimously, collecting 38 votes. The bill will now head to the Florida House of Representatives. If it passes through that government body without issue, it will head to the governor’s desk, where Gov. Ron DeSantis can sign the bill into law.
Why was Teddy Bridgewater suspended?
Bridgewater was suspended for providing impermissible benefits to his players. The violation occurred during the 2024 season, when the quarterback-turned-coach paid for transportation, food, recovery efforts, and more for his team. The suspension came after Miami Northwestern High School won the Class 3A state championship in Bridgewater’s first season as head coach.
What high school did Teddy Bridgewater coach?
Bridgewater coached Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater. The quarterback took the opportunity as a way to continue giving back to the community, saying that he was a younger version of himself in the players.
How much money did Teddy Bridgewater spend on his players?
Bridgewater revealed that he spent more than $28,000 on his team during the 2024 season. The quarterback later asked for help from the community to fund the effort, which led to his suspension. He spoke about the situation after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, saying that he wanted to protect his players and give them the support they needed.
Teddy Bridgewater career earnings
Bridgewater has earned about $66 million in his NFL career, according to Spotrac. Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Bridgewater played 11 seasons with the Vikings, Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Miami Dolphins.
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