The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill to allow K-12 head coaches to use up to $15,000 personal funds to support their players with food and travel services, as well as physical therapy and rehabilitation needs to get through the season in the upper chamber this week.
Known as the Teddy Bridgewater Act, the vote was 37-0.
Teddy Bridgewater was the head coach of the Miami Northwestern Bulls high school football team when he posted on social media asking for donations to help cover personal expenses for Uber rides, meals, and recovery treatments for his players in July 2025. Bridgewater indicated he self-reported the funds to the school.
Bridgewater was ultimately suspended by the school for providing impermissible benefits to his players, which violated rules set by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).
Miami Northwestern, a perennial power in Florida high school football, is located in the often tough Liberty City section of Miami. Bridgewater, who is a football alumnus of the school and has played quarterback in the NFL for 11 seasons, including last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, indicated he wanted to help protect his players from dangerous conditions in the area.
The Bulls won a state championship with Bridgewater with a 41-0 win over Jacksonville Raines High School in 2024. Miami Northwestern finished the season 12-2 in Bridgewater's lone season as head coach after finishing a disappointing 4-6 the previous year.
Bridgewater ultimately stepped down from Miami Northwestern in August 2025 to join the Bucs for the upcoming season to backup quaterback Baker Mayfield. Bridgewater recently signed with the Detroit Lions for the upcoming 2026 season.
The Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed the Teddy Bridgwater Act 112-0 before its Senate passage.
Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Gardens) carried the bill (SB 178) in the Senate. Rep. Chip LaMarca sponsored the companion bill (HB 1253) in the House.
If signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the bill would take effect on July 1.
