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The love that New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has for his old hometown is almost famous. He’s a big advocate for high school football, often returning for games when the schedule allows. He discussed his affinity for Liberty City — the Miami neighborhood he hails from, along with other NFL stars like Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Indianapolis Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, whose father is a legendary coach in the community — with Mina Kimes on the ESPN Daily podcast. Liberty City is a hotbed of football talent and recruiting, often playing host to big-time college recruiters like Alabama coach Nick Saban.
“I come back every chance I get,” Bridgewater said. “Every chance I get. With the schedule that we had in New Orleans, I was able to come home on Sundays after games, and just ride through the community and let them see me like, ‘This guy was playing football on Sunday and he’s back here the Monday after that, visiting high schools and things like that.'”
While some of Bridgewater’s antics have leaned closer to goofiness, like his temporary stint on his high school’s dance team, Bridgewater has also done what he can to support the community with school supplies giveaways and footing the dinner bill for the football team — players, coaches, and support staff included. From his perspective, these actions do a lot to bridge the gap between the current and future generations of Liberty City talent.
Bridgewater continued, “I just want to show everyone that I’m just like them still. I still get the same 24 hours you get, and I still bleed just the way you do. So I try to let them know that I’m still the same guy. That’s why I come back, because in those same neighborhoods there’s the next Teddy Bridgewater, there’s the next Amari Cooper, and the next Duke Johnson. And they need to see us in the flesh. And as long as they’re able to see that we’re able to be touched, we’re within arm’s reach, it makes a difference in our lives, and it makes a difference in their lives.”
These words and actions make Bridgewater’s character easy to measure. His skills on the football field, having gone 5-0 as a starter with the Saints in 2019, speaks for itself. Hopefully the Saints can work out a contract extension with the pending free agent, but it won’t be easy.
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