Tag: High School Football

Steve Atwater elected to National High School Football Hall of Fame

Broncos great Steve Atwater was recently elected to the National High School Football Hall of Fame. Congrats, 27!

Former Denver Broncos star safety Steve Atwater was recently elected to the National High School Hall of Fame.

Atwater joined the Broncos in 1989 and spent ten years in the Mile High City, helping them win Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998. He also nabbed three All-Pro nods and eight Pro Bowls during his career.

While Atwater has the hardware and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to claim, he doesn’t take getting nominated to the High School Football Hall of Fame for granted. He explained more to the Denver Broncos‘ official website: 

“They’re nice accolades. It’s nice to be recognized for being good at something. I definitely appreciate it, and I know that that’s only a part of the person that I am.

I’m also a father, a husband, a friend, an uncle. I take all those roles very seriously, too. So, it is kind of cool. I know a lot of my friends and my family, they get a kick out of these types of things. It’s pretty cool.”

Congrats to Atwater for another tremendous honor.

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Broncos donate more than 15,000 football helmets to Colorado high schools

The Broncos are donating 15,516 football helmets to high schools across Colorado, the largest philanthropic donation in franchise history.

The Denver Broncos Foundation and team ownership has made a huge donation of football helmets to all 277 Colorado high schools, the team announced Tuesday.

The initiative, titled “ALL IN. ALL COVERED,” is the largest philanthropic donation in franchise history, consisting of 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets at no cost to every high school football program in the state.

“The Denver Broncos Foundation is proud to launch ALL IN. ALL COVERED, a game-changing program designed to have a lasting impact on Colorado youth for years to come,” Broncos co-owner Carrie Walton Penner in a statement.

According to the team’s press release, schools will receive 25% of the donated helmets each year of the program (2025-2028) based on the average roster size of their team’s classification, from six-man football all the way up to 5A.

“The Riddell Axiom helmet smart was carefully selected as the helmet of choice for this program due to its safety and performance features,” read the statement. “The Axiom features Riddell’s TRU-FIT™ SYSTEM, which uses 3D imaging of each athlete’s head for a personalized fit and protection system to improve impact response. It also comes standard with InSite Smart Helmet Technology for impact sensing and reporting.”

The start of the helmet rollout will begin in May, and continue all the way to the beginning of the 2025 high school football season.

View the announcement video, narrated by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, below for a more complete rundown.

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Former Saints QB wins a state title in first year as high school coach

Former Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern High School to a state championship in his first year as their head football coach:

Teddy Bridgewater made good on his word. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback led his Miami Northwestern High School football team to a state championship in 3A competition on Saturday night.

“Teddy Two Gloves” found immediate success in coaching high school ball at his old stomping grounds, and their playoff run is one for the record books:

  • 69-0 win vs. Barron Collier
  • 64-12 win vs. Lely
  • 48-0 win vs. Cypress Lake
  • 40-0 win vs. Eau Gallie
  • 41-0 win vs. Raines

Good for him and the young men he’s coaching. Bridgewater has done well for himself everywhere he’s been, whether as a starting quarterback in high school or in college at Louisville, or as a top-flight backup with the Saints; he saved their 2019 season by stepping in for an injured Drew Brees. Now he’s earned some coaching bona fides, too.

So what’s next for Bridgewater? He could run it back at Miami Northwestern or go looking for other opportunities, having speculated about a return to the NFL before. Wherever he goes next, it’s a safe bet that he’ll have plenty of fans cheering him on.

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Former Saints QB leads his high school team to the state championship in Year 1

Former Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater has led his Miami Northwestern high school team to the state championship game in Year 1 as their coach:

Here’s more good news on Teddy Bridgewater, the former New Orleans Saints backup quarterback who quickly became a fan favorite when he stepped in to replace Drew Brees after a critical injury back in 2019. Bridgewater has since stepped up in his first year as a coach, having returned to his old stomping rounds at Miami Northwestern High School.

After a strong debut in the regular season, Bridgewater’s team has kept that momentum going into the postseason. They’ve advanced to the state title game after a series of dominant performances, knocking out playoff opponents by a combined tally of 221-12:

  • 69-0 win vs. Barron Collier
  • 64-12 win vs. Lely
  • 48-0 win vs. Cypress Lake
  • 40-0 win vs. Eau Gallie

Now they’re set up to play Raines in the FHSAA 3A State Championship Game. Raines is nothing to sneeze at, neither; they’ve won their playoff games by a combined score of 188-59 and overcame some adversity with a big halftime deficit in the semifinal. Bridgewater’s squad can’t take them lightly.

Still, this is a season Bridgewater can be proud of. It hasn’t been without controversy; an investigation into alleged player eligibility violations cleared them of wrongdoing, but Bridgewater has often aired his frustrations with the state of high school football recruiting on social media, and indicated he’s eyeing a return to the NFL. But for now his focus lies on winning a state title for his alma mater. They’ll have the opportunity to do just that at FIU’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 14.

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Former Saints QB coached his first HS playoff win, but hints at NFL return

Teddy Bridgewater might not be done in the NFL just yet. He won his first high school playoff game as a coach, but says he ‘can’t wait’ to return to the pros:

Teddy Bridgewater might not be done in the NFL just yet. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback retired earlier this year to take the job as high school football coach at his Miami Northwestern alma mater, and last week he led the Bulls to their first playoff win, 69-0 over Barron Collier. Now they’re set to host Levy high school for an opportunity to advance to the state semifinals in 3A competition.

But on Tuesday, Bridgewater suggested he could go back to the pros. Bridgewater tweeted:

“So many QB jobs available for me after we make this state title run. I can’t wait to return back to the NFL.”

While he’s thrived in reviving his high school program and spoken often about enjoying the opportunity to make a difference in his hometown, Bridgewater has expressed frustration on the drama and politicking surrounding the job. As part of a longer message, he previously wrote on his personal Facebook page that:

“Now we have grown men telling on KIDS!! Jeopardizing their future and their team’s future. As a man, what do you get out of that?? I pray MNW stays in the clear from all that’s going on because like I tell my coaches, I played 10 years in the league and never made any headlines and I’ll be damned if I let MNW have me caught up in some mess. I know it’s people waiting on the day it happens”

That’s a pretty strong condemnation. One of Miami Northwestern’s rivals vacated their season after an investigation revealed they had rostered an ineligible player, and situations like that clearly aren’t appealing to someone with other options like Bridgewater. We’ll see how things shake out in the weeks and months ahead, but a return to the NFL shouldn’t be ruled out. It’s clearly on his mind.

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Former Saints QB-turned-high school coach led his team to the playoffs

Teddy Bridgewater is working hard in South Florida. The former Saints quarterback-turned-high school coach has led his team to the playoffs in Year 1:

Teddy Bridgewater walked away from millions of dollars and a ten-year NFL career to pursue his real passion — coaching high school football. And the former New Orleans Saints quarterback has found success there, too. Bridgewater returned to his alma mater in South Florida, Miami Northwestern High School, where the field is named after him.

And while it’s just Year 1 of his program, Bridgewater already has them in the playoffs with a 7-2 record (they took a third loss to crosstown rival Miami Central, which forfeited the game due to a rules violation). They’ll play Barron Collier this Friday and hope to advance.

“It’s a smart group,” Bridgewater told the Miami Herald after beating top-seeded Miami Columbus earlier this season. “It’s a group that loves challenges and they’re battled tested.”

Good for him. He made a lot of fans with the Saints and “Teddy Two Gloves” is still remembered fondly for helping to save their 2019 season after a devastating injury to Drew Brees. Everywhere he’s gone, from Miami to Louisville and multiple NFL cities, he’s left with more fans cheering for him.

Bridgewater overcame a career-threatening knee injury to enjoy a productive stint with the Saints and a couple of years as a starter before stepping back into a backup role. He was known for stopping by high  school games as a spectator just enjoying the atmosphere in New Orleans, so you can say he’s in his element. Making a positive influence on the next  generation and teaching them how to succeed, even through adversity, is how he feels he can best build his legacy.

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Florida freshman’s alma mater seeking massive new high school stadium

Everything is bigger in Texas, including high school football stadium projects.

It wasn’t that long ago that current Florida Gators starting quarterback DJ Lagway was turning around the misfortunes of his high school football team.  As a freshman Lagway and the Willis High School Wildkats were just a meager 2-8 and would eventually lead them deep into the Texas State 6A Division II playoffs before DeSoto took them down.

Less than a year after Lagway graduated and moved on to the collegiate level, his Houston-area high school is looking to get a new stadium in a $115 million bond that would earmark more than half of that total for the project.

According to Texas High School Football, the $68.8 million proposal is going to be voted on in November.

This project would place the new stadium among the most expensive high school football facilities in Texas. It follows recent trends, such as Katy ISD’s $72 million Legacy Stadium and McKinney’s $70 million venue. Voters in nearby districts, like Prosper ISD, have also considered costly sports facility upgrades.

What can we say, they just do things a little differently in the Lone Star State. We shall soon find out if this goes through with Willis ISD looking to make substantial changes to their district to keep up with the ever-growing population.

Chiefs announce high school Coach of the Week awards

Check out who won the #Chiefs’ latest high school Coach of the Week awards.

The Kansas City Chiefs have announced their High School Coaches of the Week for the fifth week of the 2024 season. Head coach Jed Paulson of Blue Springs High School and head coach Rod Stallbaumer of Basehor-Linwood High School are the two latest winners of the prestigious award.

This recognition comes from a partnership between the Chiefs and the high school football media organization PrepsKC, which covers the Kansas City metro area.

Blue Springs High School stood out this week for defeating Rockhurst High School 30-13 for their first win against the Hawklets since 2019. This victory for the Wildcats earned Paulson the Head Coach of the Week award for Week 5.

Speaking about the recognition after the win, Coach Paulson said:

“This award is a representation of the hard work from our players, parents and staff over the past three years. The buzz surrounding the Wildcat football program comes from years of building the culture the right way.”

The other award winner for Week 5, Stallbaumer of the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats, is currently coaching the 5-0 for their season after defeating Topeka West High School 59-6.

In his comments from the Chiefs’ official media release about the award, Stallbaumer said:

“This award is a reflection of the hard work of our student athletes, the dedication of our assistant coaches and the support of our parents and community – all three factors are paramount to a successful football program” Head coach Stallbaumer shared after receiving the award.

Winning a Head Coach of the Week award gets the school a $500 Hunt Family Foundation grant. The coach receives a pair of Oakley sunglasses, a certificate of recognition, and qualification for the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award which will be selected later this fall.

Teddy Bridgewater gets his first win as a high school football coach

Teddy Bridgewater got his first win as a high school football coach. The former Saints quarterback is off to a good start at Miami Northwestern:

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is still finding ways to win. He’s coaching high school football after finishing his playing career with the Detroit Lions.

Bridgewater, who returned to his alma mater at Miami Northwestern, just earned his first win as a high school coach. His Bulls team came away with an impressive 42-7 victory on Saturday against the Palmetto Panthers to start their season (and his career) 1-0.

He isn’t the only the only former Saint quarterback to enter the coaching ranks. Mark Brunell and J.T. Barrett have both found themselves coaching with the Lions. Those are some more ties to Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who has familiarity with both players along with Bridgewater during his time in New Orleans. He was teammates with Brunell and coached Barrett before going to Detroit.

With that said, a big congrats Bridgewater on a huge accomplishment in the place where it all started for him. We’ll all make sure to stay tuned to him and his squad as their season continues.

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Watch: Michigan high school football player pulls off a sick one-handed catch

Mason Dragich makes this sensational catch.

We may be talking about practice (practice?), but this is a ridiculous catch, no matter the setting. And Mason Dragich, a football player in Michigan, has set the standard pretty high for a highlight play.

And prep football season hasn’t even started.

Dragich is a class of 2026 wide receiver at Dakota High School (Macomb, Mich.). He produced a simply sensational, one-handed catch during practice on Friday.

The play saw him rise up and reach across his body with his right hand to make a one-handed catch before tumbling to the ground. The catch was pretty great, but there is an instant reaction from his teammate (No. 34, senior linebacker Vasi Mantis) in the bottom left corner on the sidelines who is essentially taken aback at the play.

Don’t worry No. 34, we feel the same way. Amazing stuff from Dragich, but there is a catch to making a catch like that: We want to see it a game now.

Looking forward to seeing what Dragich produces this fall for Dakota. The Cougars open the season on Aug. 29 at Fordson (Dearborn, Mich.).

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