The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for their preseason opener this week against the Tennessee Titans.
Tampa Bay’s 2025 outlook hinges largely on the offense, with a new coordinator for the third consecutive season. Josh Grizzard takes over for Liam Coen, who orchestrated one of the top offenses in the league last season despite multiple key injuries.
The Buccaneers hope to keep that success going and signed veteran Teddy Bridgewater this week to add experience to the quarterback room behind incumbent starter Baker Mayfield.
Bridgewater was suspended from his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, for providing impermissible benefits to his players following the 2024 season. Bridgewater answered questions today about what he wants people to know regarding the reasons behind providing those benefits.
‘When I decided to coach, those players became my sons and I wanted to make sure that I just protect them in the best way that I can,’ he said. ‘Miami Northwestern is in a tough neighborhood and sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home and different things like that. So I just tried to protect them, give them a ride home instead of them having to take those dangerous walks.’
Bridgewater detailed in a post to Facebook that he spent the following amounts on the team:
- $2,200 per week to feed his players pregame meals;
- $14,000 for a training camp;
- $9,500 for uniforms;
- $1,300 per week for recovery services;
- $300 per week to keep the team’s field painted;
- $700 for Uber rides
‘It’s a great group of kids, man,’ Bridgewater said. ‘They see so much hope when they look at me… it’s the way that I feed my soul and it allows me to stay young, being around those kids. I think that now that I’m back in the league it’s actually going to be extra motivation for them as well.’
Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern to a Class 3A Florida State High School Athletic Association championship last year.
‘They’ll get to play a game Friday night and probably get to drive across the state and come watch the Bucs play and see coach on the sidelines,’ he said. ‘So it’s like, coach is just continuing to serve as motivation and influence [them] in every way possible… showing that you can make it to the NFL.’
The 32-year-old signed with the Detroit Lions briefly after the high school season finished. He took snaps in the Lions’ divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders, including a handoff that led to a rushing touchdown by Jameson Williams.
Buccaneers QB depth chart
Bridgewater’s currently third on the Buccaneers’ depth chart behind Mayfield and backup Kyle Trask. Here’s how it looks ahead of Saturday’s game against Tennessee:
- Baker Mayfield
- Kyle Trask
- Michael Pratt (back injury)
- Teddy Bridgewater
- Connor Bazelak
