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4 former NFL quarterbacks who are now High School coaches ft. Teddy Bridgewater
The ranks of high school football coaching are seeing an influx of former NFL quarterbacks who are shaping young athletes at the prep level. While former signal-callers can be found on coaching staffs at every level, a growing trend has seen ex-NFL quarterbacks taking leadership roles at high schools.
These individuals bring professional expertise, mentorship and a deep understanding of the game to the programs they now lead.
Four former NFL quarterbacks who are now high school coaches
#1 Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater, a former star quarterback at Louisville and the NFL’s 2014 Rookie of the Year, transitioned into coaching after injuries cut short his 10-season professional career. In 2024, he returned to his Miami roots to lead the storied Northwestern High School football program.
Bridgewater’s impact at Northwestern has been transformative. Wide receiver Calvin Russell shared his admiration, telling the Palm Beach Post:
“He means a lot. He changed the way we think about everything. The way we do things, how we go about things. He changed a whole lot.”
Under Bridgewater, the Bulls posted an impressive 8-2 record during the regular season.
Northwestern’s mastery reigned supreme throughout the playoffs, battering their rivals 262-12 combined. Their journey was rounded up by a spectacular 41-0 match against Jacksonville Raines during the State Championship Game.
#2 Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer, a Heisman Trophy winner from USC and former NFL standout, has also made the transition to high school coaching and coach at his alma mater, Rancho Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California.
Rancho Santa Margarita, a prestigious Southern California football powerhouse, endured a challenging 5-7 season in 2023, marked by off-field controversies, including the suspension of their former coach. Palmer’s appointment brings hope for stability and success to a program with a storied history.
As a high school athlete, Palmer led the Eagles to consecutive CIF championships and earned numerous accolades, including All-American and All-State honors. His senior season was particularly remarkable, with 2,685 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
#3 Tim Hasselbeck
Last December Tim Hasselbeck, the former quarterback and ESPN journalist, joined Ensworth High School's football team as its coach in Nashville, TN, Tennessee.
“In Coach Hasselbeck, we see someone who will shape young men and who will be able to assemble and lead a talented and committed coaching staff,” said Prentice Stabler, the school’s headmaster, upon Hasselbeck's hiring.
“Coach Hasselbeck’s extensive experience as a former NFL player, analyst, and coach will be a tremendous asset to our football program.”
Hasselbeck quickly delivered results, guiding the Tigers to an 11-0 start in his first season. Although their campaign ended in the Division II Class AAA state semifinals with a loss to McCallie School, Hasselbeck’s leadership reinvigorated a program that hadn’t won a playoff game in five years.
#4 Chad Pennington
When Chad Pennington, who was a famous NFL player in his time and who retired in 2011 became the Sayre School's head coach in 2018, a private school in Kentucky, on his agenda was the formation of a competitive football team aspect..
“We have certainly improved over time with facilities and bells and whistles, but more importantly, we stay true to who we are as a program,” Pennington told Lexington Herald-Leader.
“And that’s the focus being on developing young men and using the game of football to do that, not only for football, but for the next chapter of their lives. That’s what I’m most proud of.”
Sayre’s early hurdles, exemplified by a 1-9 season in 2019, has been replaced by prosperous outcomes.
In 2023, the Spartans achieved a 12-1 record, with little difference from the one that led to the state championship. This season, under Pennington, Sayre drove towards a perfect 15-0 campaign, which was marked by an electrifying 27-22 win in the state championship game.
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