Florida Senate passes 'Teddy Bridgewater Bill' allowing coaches to use personal funds for student welfare

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Teddy Bridgewater has become something of a martyr in Florida.

While coaching at Miami Northwestern High School, the former NFL quarterback admitted to providing players with financial benefits, including Uber rides, meal costs and physical therapy for the team.

His actions led to his suspension last summer, but they are closer to being legal after a bill was signed in the state.

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Miami Northwestern's Teddy Bridgewater raises the state trophy following the team's win over Raines in the Class 3A championship on Dec. 14, 2024. (Chet Peterman/ Special to The Post/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Florida lawmakers on Thursday passed Senate Bill 178, the "Teddy Bridgewater Bill," which requires "the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws authorizing a head coach to support the welfare of a student by using personal funds to provide certain effects to the student."

The bill says the coach must report the use of funds to the association, "providing that such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit, etc."

The bill will now go to Florida's House of Representatives.

Speaking to the media last August after signing a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bridgewater explained his thought process behind the events that led to his suspension.

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (17) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 25, 2023. (Bob Donnan/ USA TODAY Sports)

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