Teddy Bridgewater: A Retrospective on His College Career
Theodore Edmond Bridgewater Jr., born on November 10, 1992, is an American professional football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Before his NFL career, Bridgewater made a name for himself playing college football for the Louisville Cardinals. This article delves into Bridgewater's college career, highlighting his achievements and impact on the Louisville football program.
Early Life and High School Career
Bridgewater's journey began in Miami, Florida, where he was born to Teddy Bridgewater Sr. and Rose Murphy. He attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where he quickly established himself as a talented football player. The school later honored him by renaming its football field in his honor.
As a sophomore, Bridgewater took over as the starting quarterback, succeeding Jacory Harris. He led a team that had been named the 2007 national champions by USA Today. During that season, Bridgewater completed 97 of 160 attempts (60.6 percent) for 1,560 yards, throwing 16 touchdowns with three interceptions. He also rushed 45 times for 211 yards (4.7 average) and two more scores.
As a junior, Bridgewater continued to impress, passing for 2,546 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 379 yards and five more scores. In a late-September game against Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, he completed 19 of 24 passes for 327 yards and a Dade County record seven touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him second-team All-State honors for the 6A classification and first-team All-County recognition from the Miami Herald.
During his senior year, Bridgewater accumulated 2,606 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, despite missing parts of the season due to a medial collateral ligament injury. He also rushed for 223 yards and eight more scores.
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College Recruitment
Bridgewater was a highly sought-after recruit coming out of high school. He received offers from several major college football programs. Ultimately, he committed to play for the University of Louisville.
Freshman Year (2011)
Bridgewater began his college career at Louisville in 2011 as a backup to Will Stein.
Sophomore Year (2012)
In 2012, Bridgewater started 11 of 12 regular-season games as a sophomore. In his only non-starting action, coming off the bench while injured against Rutgers, Bridgewater led his team to a win, a Big East title, and a berth to the BCS. He finished the regular season completing 267-of-387 passes for 3,452 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Bridgewater finished sixth in the nation in completion percentage, eighth in yards per attempt, and seventh in passing efficiency.
Junior Year (2013)
During his junior year, Bridgewater continued to excel. As early as April 2013, Bridgewater was seen as one of the top prospects for the 2014 NFL draft, alongside Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel.
College Statistics
Bridgewater's college statistics showcase his talent and impact on the Louisville Cardinals football program.
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Sugar Bowl Victory
One of the highlights of Bridgewater's college career was leading the Louisville Cardinals to victory in the 2013 Sugar Bowl.
Recognition and Awards
Bridgewater received numerous accolades and awards during his college career, recognizing his outstanding performance and contributions to the Louisville Cardinals football program.
NFL Draft
Bridgewater's success in college made him a highly touted prospect for the 2014 NFL Draft. He was ultimately selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the final first-round pick.
Professional Career
After being drafted into the NFL, Bridgewater played for several teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. After initially retiring from the NFL in 2023, Bridgewater became the head football coach at Miami Northwestern, his former high school. In July 2025, Bridgewater was suspended from his position as head coach at Miami Northwestern for providing impermissible benefits to his players. A year after retirement, Bridgewater announced on NFL Network that he intended to continue his playing career in the NFL, and he was re-signed by the Lions on December 26, 2024, joining Hendon Hooker in backing up starting quarterback Jared Goff for the remainder of the season. Bridgewater briefly appeared in the Divisional Round game against the Washington Commanders, relieving Jared Goff who underwent concussion evaluation for three plays during the second quarter. After the Lions' 2023 season ended with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Bridgewater formally confirmed his retirement from playing.
Personal Life
Bridgewater grew up in Miami as the youngest of four children to a single mother. He is a Christian. Bridgewater graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in Sports Administration after the 2013 college football season. His mother, Rose, is a breast cancer survivor.
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