Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker joined the outpouring of public support for former Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater received a suspension from his post as a high school football coach over providing impermissible benefits for his players.
Bears’ Jaquan Brisker Sends Message to Former Lions, Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater
Jaquan Brisker Voices Support for Teddy Bridgewater Before Bears Training Camp
Bridgewater acknowledged the suspension, pointing to his alma mater, Miami Northwestern, for handing down the suspension. However, reports suggest a precedent for such a decision.
Still, Brisker is among those on Bridgwater’s side as the former preps for Bears training camp.
Bridgewater was a second-round pick by the Vikings in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he was out of the division for four seasons when the Bears selected Brisker in the second round in 2022. The QB returned to the NFC North with the Lions in 2023 and 2024, though.
“Shoutout Teddy Bridgewater!” Brisker posted on X on July 14, presumably reacting to the news of the QB’s suspension.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz estimated more than $23,500 plus $3,570 in weekly charges coming out of Bridgewater’s pockets.
Bridgewater said his camp “SELF REPORTED” what they did for the players.
He also said the school cannot suspend him because he is not an employee. Bridgewater added that if he is, then he can go coach wherever else he chooses.
Bridgewater said he has no plans of leaving and that he would continue coaching the team.
Teddy Bridgewater Situation Riles Up NFL
“This Teddy Bridgewater suspension for doing RIGHT by his football players and propping up the program with his own money is simply embarrassing. WTF are we even doing here? When I read everything he was providing for these young men, I’m thinking ‘Is he going to get some kind of reward? Recognition ?’ Come on man…this is just dumb,” ESPN’s Louis Riddick posted on X on July 14.
“Who is making these rules? Who comes up with this sh!t? Seriously. It just makes zero sense. Think about the message that is being sent by suspending this man. We are so f’ed with this kind of thing happening. Wow.”
“The details make this a tad frustrating, huh[?]” New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan posted on X on July 14. “I could see if this was pre NIL and even then. Coach cared too much for the kids huh[?]”
Yahoo Sports’ Chris Cwik pointed to a Facebook post Bridgewater shared as a root cause for the suspension. In it, Bridgewater revealed he had been covering expenses like training camps, Uber rides, and meals for players.
“He got suspended for taking care of his players when they were in need, teaching them how to take care of their bodies and giving them the necessities to help them chase their dreams for a brighter future,” Former NFL QB Robert Griffin III said in his post on X on July 14. “He gave them the tools to chase a better future and is getting punished for it.
“Suspending Teddy Bridgewater isn’t justice. It’s punishing love, leadership, and sacrifice.”
Brisker’s focus is surely on the Bears’ upcoming training camp, for which he and the other veterans will report on July 22. Still, Bridgewater’s situation is a polarizing one for many in NFL circles.
