LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Teddy Bridgewater is back in the NFL.
The former University of Louisville star and Sugar Bowl MVP has signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to multiple reports, ending speculation about his coaching future at Miami Northwestern High School.
Bridgewater, 32, passed a physical during a visit with the Bucs on Tuesday and will join a quarterback room led by Baker Mayfield, who returned to practice this week after missing time with a minor hand injury. Kyle Trask, Michael Pratt, and Connor Bazelak round out the group, but with Pratt sidelined and Trask lacking game experience, Bridgewater brings a much-needed dose of veteran poise and perspective.
"He'd bring us a wealth of experience at that spot," Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday. "The more experience the better."
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
This marks Bridgewater's eighth NFL team and his third in the NFC South, having previously played for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. Drafted in the first round by Minnesota in 2014, he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2015 before a devastating knee injury sidelined him for most of the next two seasons. Since then, he's carved out a reputation as a dependable backup and valuable locker-room presence.
Bridgewater briefly retired in early 2024 and returned to his alma mater, Miami Northwestern, where he led the Bulls to a Florida Class 3A state championship in his first season as head coach. But that chapter ended abruptly this summer after Bridgewater was suspended by the Florida High School Athletic Association for providing impermissible benefits to players — including covering the cost of meals, transportation, and recovery services.
Bridgewater addressed the situation publicly, saying the program had self-reported the violations and defending his decision to support players financially. He was widely praised for stepping up in a system that often leaves athletes without basic resources.
Still, the suspension cast doubt on his future in high school coaching. Last week, Bridgewater informed Northwestern players that he would not return for the 2025 season — choosing instead to pursue one more NFL run.
The Bucs offer a compelling landing spot. Mayfield has enjoyed back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, but depth behind him is thin. Trask, a fourth-year pro, has thrown just 11 career passes. Bridgewater, by contrast, has thrown for more than 15,000 yards and 75 touchdowns over 11 NFL seasons and even saw brief playoff action last year in Detroit when Jared Goff was evaluated for a concussion.
"He can't do nothing but help," Bowles said. "He's been in some of the systems Baker has been in. He has a wealth of knowledge from a coaching standpoint as well as a playing standpoint."
And the Louisville alum continues to prove, no matter what he contributes on the field, he's a valuable player to have around.
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