If you’re watching Miami Hurricanes football today, you know Mario Cristobal’s team is humming with pressure, energy, and, let’s be real, little of that old-school South Florida swag. Cristobal has been the head coach since late 2021, and although he has achieved somewhat mixed results on the field (his 22 wins over three years are just one more than Manny Diaz achieved), the atmosphere about the program feels different now. Cristobal isn’t coy about what he demands: he wants vocal leaders who support what they say with action. The 2025 recruiting class ranks 13th in the country and first in the ACC for the third consecutive year, which speaks volumes about the direction Cristobal is taking this ship.

Now, of course, to talk about the recruiting victories, let’s catch up on Jordan Campbell. This kid is huge. Campbell, a 2026 linebacker out of Miami Carol City, gave his pledge last November and hasn’t stopped causing a stir ever since. He’s a four-star player, one of the top linebackers in the country, and his statistics last year in his junior year: 70 stops, 28 tackles for losses, 6 sacks, as well as some forced fumbles and pass breaks. He’s quick and capable, and other schools of note (Missouri) are now looking to flip him, but the man is strictly Miami for now.

In a recent video of CaneSport Miami football, the host winds up in a conversation with Campbell. “I know you’re a good linebacker, good edge. If you can play one other position, what would it be and why?” To that, Campbell replies, “A quarterback cuz my head coach played quarterback.” Now, that’s a type of offer Cristobal can’t deny, especially from a four-star recruit like him.

Despite being a beast on defense, Campbell spilled the beans that if he could choose another position, it would be QB. It’s a nice twist because you tend to think of him as a linebacker dialed in on defense, but this just proves how versatile and football-savvy the kid is, because his high school coach, Teddy Bridgewater, yes! He is coaching now! played that spot and inspired him a lot.

“You’re playing under Teddy Bridgewater, longtime NFL player. Just how cool is it? What are some things you learned from him?” He replied, “So far, just learning how to be a better man, like on and off the field.”

Teddy Bridgewater is not only about throwing touchdowns and guiding teams on the field; he’s all about showing young players how to be good men, period, on and off the gridiron. Following a respectable NFL career where he passed for more than 15,000 yards and 75 touchdowns, and started 65 games with a nearly even 33-32 record,. Now, Teddy’s style is super down-to-earth. It’s just to make sure his players understand that being a great athlete means nothing if you’re not a solid person.

He mentions being the voice of the defense and calling everything, which works with that quarterback mentality of calling the shots on the field. And being under a player like Teddy Bridgewater, an ex-NFL QB, has likely taught him some added insight and motivation on what it means to orchestrate an offense. So, though he’s devoted to Miami as a linebacker, you can see the kid’s got a true love for the game and a willingness to do whatever will best assist the team.

Turning the Bulls around

Bridgewater, the same man who passed for more than 15,000 yards in the NFL and suited up with teams such as the Vikings, Saints, and Broncos, called it quits on his cleats and returned to where it all began: Miami Northwestern High School. And here’s the kicker: he didn’t just assume leadership of the program; he turned the script on its head. The Bulls were riding a dismal 4-6 campaign in 2023, but with Teddy in charge, they roared back to an 11-2 season and qualified for the state championship game. That’s a turnaround you don’t see every day.

They felt Bridgewater’s effect right away. The Bulls didn’t merely win; they throttled. During the playoffs, they defeated opponents by an eye-opening 221-12. That’s a culture shift. Teddy introduced excitement, discipline, and a winning attitude to a program that was struggling. And you know he cares about more than football. He’s been vocal about giving his players opportunities, particularly when it comes to things such as National Signing Day and being in the media.

Now, with the title game being played on their home turf at Pitbull Stadium, Teddy’s in a position to bring Northwestern its eighth state championship. Whether this is merely the start of his coaching career or a homecoming of one year before another NFL chapter, Teddy Bridgewater’s inaugural season as head coach is already the stuff of legend.