Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to permit 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 while speaking at a press conference in Jacksonville this week.
The bill is known as the Teddy Bridgewater Act. 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).
"Student athletes often face challenges outside of school that can affect their ability to participate fully in athletics. This legislation creates a structured and transparent way for coaches to provide assistance using their own personal funds, if they want to, with safeguards like parental consent, reporting minimums, and then oversight," DeSantis said.
Bridgewater, an alumnus of Miami Northwestern and an 11-season NFL quarterback, helped the Bulls to a state championship over Jacksonville Raines High School in his lone season as head coach.
Miami Northwestern, a high school football powerhouse, is located in the tough Liberty City section of Miami. According to Football Reference, the school has produced over 40 NFL players, including seven active players.
Bridgewater, at the time of the suspension, indicated he was looking to protect his players from the dangerous conditions in the area.
"There have been a lot of great players who come up as youth who may not have the proper guidance and the proper support at home, so that even though they're very talented, they may get led astray in other parts of life, and then they don't end up fulfilling their potential as athletes, so a coach, that's something that you obviously want to be mindful of," DeSantis said.
Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Gardens) carried the bill in the Senate. Rep. Chip LaMarca sponsored the companion bill in the House.
"I think it's going to be positive reform, and it will recognize that these coaches serve important roles, their mentors. It's not just all X's and O's, and there are times where some of the athletes need a little help, and why would we want to stop these acts of generosity," DeSantis added.
Former NFL player Laveranues Coles also praised the bill's purpose.
"All these coaches give their time, their livelihoods, and parent us outside of our homes when we leave our homes on a daily basis. And to think my coaches could have got in trouble for helping me out...our coaches were there for us, all of our young kids in the community," Coles said.
Gov. DeSantis also signed a bill allowing districts to use funds raised by high school booster clubs to pay coaches and activity sponsors. Moreover, legislation permits districts to classify athletic coaches as administrative personnel and negotiate salary compensation outside of usual collective bargaining.
Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) sponsored the bill in the Senate. Reps. Doug Bankson (R-Apoka) and Kimberly Daniels (R-Jacksonville) sponsored a similar bill in the House.
