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Teddy Bridgewater, an American professional football player, has made a significant mark in the NFL, not only as an athlete but also through his financial achievements. As of 2023, Bridgewater’s net worth is estimated to be around $19 million, according to various sources.
In this blog, we delve into the multifaceted life of Teddy Bridgewater, his personal journey, tracing his early life and the path that led him to become a notable quarterback in professional football, and his earnings and contracts that have significantly shaped his net worth.
| Full Name | Teddy Bridgewater |
| Date of Birth | November 10, 1992 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 31 years |
| Place of Birth | Miami, Florida, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 214 lb (97 kg) |
| Profession | Professional NFL Player (Quarterback) |
| High School | Miami Northwestern High School |
| College | University of Louisville |
| NFL Draft | 2014, Round 1, Pick 32 by the Minnesota Vikings |
| NFL Teams | Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos |
| Net Worth (2023) | $19 million (estimated) |
| Girlfriend | Erika Cardona |
| Children | Teddy Jr. and Leila |
01
of 08Early Life and Career Beginnings
Teddy Bridgewater was born in 1992 in Miami, Florida. From a young age, he excelled at sports, playing both football and baseball recreationally. He attended Northwestern High School in Miami, where he played as the starting quarterback. Bridgewater thrived, setting numerous school passing records and leading his team to the state playoffs.
His success at the high school level drew attention from major college football programs. He received numerous scholarship offers and ultimately committed to playing for the University of Louisville Cardinals.
At Louisville, Bridgewater had an immediate impact. As a true freshman in 2011, he started most of the season at quarterback. He passed for over 2,700 yards with 14 touchdowns, leading the Cardinals to earn a share of the Big East championship.
Over the next two years, Bridgewater continued to lead the Louisville offense to great success. He was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2012 and American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2013. During his college career, he passed for 9,817 yards and 72 touchdowns.
After a standout junior season in 2013, Bridgewater decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2014 NFL Draft. He was selected in the first round with the 32nd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings. This launched what would become a lucrative NFL career for the young quarterback.
02
of 08Professional Football Career
Teddy Bridgewater entered the NFL with high expectations as a first-round pick in the 2014 draft. He began his rookie season as the backup to Vikings starting quarterback Matt Cassel. However, Bridgewater was quickly thrust into action when Cassel suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3.
As the new starter, Bridgewater showed promise, but also the inconsistencies common for a rookie. He passed for 2,919 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His completion percentage of 64.4% set a record for a rookie quarterback. The Vikings posted a 6-6 record in the games Bridgewater started.
In 2015, Bridgewater entered his second season firmly entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback. He displayed significant improvement, increasing his touchdown passes to 14 while lowering his interceptions to 9. His passer rating climbed from 85.2 as a rookie to 88.7. Unfortunately, the Vikings missed out on the playoffs despite Bridgewater’s solid season.
Major Injury and Surgery
Prior to 2016, Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury during practice that changed the trajectory of his career. He tore his ACL and dislocated his knee, requiring reconstructive surgery. As a result, he missed the entire 2016 season and most of 2017 as well.
After a long rehab process, Bridgewater returned to action late in the 2017 season. But with the Vikings committed to Case Keenum as their starter, Bridgewater only played briefly in relief duty.
Comeback
Bridgewater returned to the starting lineup in 2019 as a member of the New Orleans Saints. Since then, he has gone on to start games for the Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins before joining the Detroit Lions in 2023.
Throughout his career thus far, Bridgewater has earned over $40 million in total salary.
03
of 08Earnings from Endorsements and Sponsors
In addition to his NFL salary, Teddy Bridgewater has earned money through several corporate endorsement deals and sponsorships. Coming out of college, he signed his first endorsement contract with Rawlings Sporting Goods in 2014.
As a rising star quarterback, Bridgewater signed an endorsement deal with Citrus Gotas, an energy drink brand, in 2016. But, due to his major knee injury, Citrus Gotas decided not to renew the sponsorship deal.
After returning to start for New Orleans in 2019, Teddy filmed commercials for IMO’s Pizza, a popular pizza chain in St. Louis near where Bridgewater played college football. Also in 2019, Microsoft signed Bridgewater to promote the company’s Surface Pro tablets, focusing ads on his NFL comeback journey. Various analysts have estimated that his Surface endorsement deal likely pays Bridgewater in the low to mid six-figures annually.
Most recently, in 2022, Bridgewater signed a deal with Ready Nutrition to endorse their sports nutrition and protein products. Details of the contract are undisclosed.
04
of 08Teddy Bridgewater Net Worth
Teddy Bridgewater entered the NFL in 2014 as a first-round draft pick with a contract including a $4.3 million signing bonus. After an injury-shortened rookie season, Bridgewater earned around $6 million combined in his second and third years with the Minnesota Vikings.
However, Bridgewater’s career earnings trajectory was disrupted after his devastating 2016 knee injury. With extensive rehab and minimal playing time over the next two seasons, his income declined substantially in 2017 and 2018 to an estimated total of $3 million.
Bridgewater rebuilt his value on the free agent market in 2019 and 2020. After signing deals with New Orleans, Carolina, and Denver, he earned salaries of $7.5 million and $10 million respectively in those years.
Estimates peg Bridgewater’s net worth at the start of 2021 at around $15 million. Also, In March 2021, Bridgewater signed a lucrative 3-year, $63 million contract with the Denver Broncos, including $33 million guaranteed at signing. His 2021 salary was $17.5 million, with various performance-based bonuses. After another year as the Broncos’ starter in 2022, Bridgewater’s net worth grew to approximately $18 million.
As of 2023, published estimates place Bridgewater’s current net worth at $19 million.
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $15 million |
| 2022 | $18 million |
| 2023 | $19 million |
05
of 08Personal Life
Family
Family and upbringing have always been central in Teddy Bridgewater’s life, shaping his work ethic and personal financial decision-making. He credits the strong support of his mother, Rose Murphy, a breast cancer survivor, as a driving force throughout every step of his career. Also, Bridgewater grew up with three older siblings in a close-knit family in Miami, Florida. As a show of appreciation after being drafted into the NFL, he bought his mother a pink Cadillac.
Girlfriends
Bridgewater has maintained a long-term relationship with Erika Cardona, a children’s book author and teacher. The couple has been together since high school and shares two children, Teddy Jr. and Leila. Erika, a graduate of Miami Northwestern High School and the University of Miami, is known for her books “Little Bear Teddy: Big Dream Come True” and “Little Bear Teddy: The New Kid.” The couple’s relationship has been largely private, but it is clear they have a strong and supportive partnership.
Real Estate And Assets
Teddy owns a luxurious home worth $895,000 in the upscale Longview neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. This property, acquired in 2020, features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a theater room, and an outdoor pool and kitchen area.
06
of 08Philanthropy
Shortly after entering the NFL, Bridgewater established the Teddy Bridgewater Fund through his high school alma mater. The foundation awards college scholarships each year to exceptional minority students from Northwestern High School in Miami. In announcing the fund, Bridgewater spoke of his desire to give back to a school system that profoundly impacted his life.
Additionally, Bridgewater hosts annual free football camps each summer for hundreds of youth in the Miami region where he grew up. These camps provide a chance for kids to learn skills and receive mentorship directly from an NFL quarterback and role model from their own community.
Bridgewater’s career passer rating of 98.9 and completion percentage of 67.2% are firmly respectable. However, his productivity stats lag behind those of elite peers like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Similarly, Bridgewater’s estimated $22 million net worth is certainly substantial, but it pales in comparison to the nine-figure net worths of veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Russell Wilson, built up over long periods of dominance.
07
of 08Comparative Analysis with Other NFL Players
| Quarterback | Passer Rating | Career Earnings | Est. Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teddy Bridgewater | 98.9 | $48 million | $19 million |
| Patrick Mahomes | 108.7 | $477 million | $40 million |
| Josh Allen | 95.9 | $258 million | $25 million |
| Aaron Rodgers | 103.9 | $308 million | $200 million |
| Tom Brady | 97.0 | $332 million | $250 million |
| Russell Wilson | 101.9 | $161 million | $135 million |
Read More: Damar Hamlin Net Worth 2023: A Deep Dive into the NFL Star’s Earnings
08
of 08FAQs
What team does Teddy Bridgewater play for now?
As of the start of the 2023 season, Bridgewater is the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions. He signed a one-year contract with the Lions as a free agent.
How much is Teddy Bridgewater’s contract worth?
In March 2022, Bridgewater signed a one-year $6.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins to be their starting quarterback. The deal included $3.5 million guaranteed at signing. In 2023, He signed a one year, $3 million contract with the Lions. He received $2.55 million guaranteed including a $1 million signing bonus.
Is Teddy Bridgewater married?
No, as of 2023 Teddy Bridgewater is not currently married. But, He has a girlfriend, Erika Cardona, with whom he has two children.
What charity work does Bridgewater do?
Some of Bridgewater’s primary charity works includes hosting free youth football camps in the Miami area, providing college scholarships to minority students, and toy drives and donations for children in need.
What major injuries has Bridgewater suffered?
The most significant injury Teddy Bridgewater endured was a devastating knee injury during 2016 preseason practice. He tore multiple knee ligaments including his ACL which required complete reconstructive surgery and over a year of rehab.
