Former Lions QB looks like a natural in action as head coach of his alma mater

Teddy Bridgewater is back on the field but in a much different role as the new head coach at Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater. While it’s a new look for the recently retired quarterback, Bridgewater looks like a natural to lead the next generation of football players.

It always seemed like such a seamless fit for Bridgewater, even without considering it’s where he spent his high-school playing days, not to mention that Northwestern’s field bears his name. During his one season with the Detroit Lions, Bridgewater was an all-important presence in the locker room, quarterback meetings and on the practice field.

In his later years, he developed a reputation as one of the game’s most respected backup quarterbacks, and he looks to be translating that experience to his new job.

The NFL shared a video of Bridgewater breaking down the huddle after a spring practice, sharing his thoughts and motivation with his team before calling it a day on the field. Bridgewater instructed his players to thank everyone lining the fence to watch them scrimmage in the spring before telling them, “It’s going to be triple that come Friday night.”

Bridgewater, a former first-round pick out of Louisville, spent his final NFL season with the Lions, with familiar faces, including head coach Dan Campbell and others from his time in New Orleans. When he was last spotted, Bridgewater and Campbell were leaving Levi’s Stadium with their arms wrapped around one another.

He might have taken only three snaps, all from the victory formation, but Bridgewater’s imprint on the young Lions is hard to ignore. Second-year Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker even plans to spend a ton of time with Bridgewater this offseason on his preparation to be QB2.

“Man, that’s just me my entire life, just paying it forward,” Bridgewater said after his first practice with the Lions last year. “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 talent, next wave of athletes, for what’s in store?