Florida Senate Bill Aims to Allow High School Coaches to Provide Benefits to Players

The proposed 'Teddy Bridgewater Act' would reverse current rules against 'impermissible benefits'

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Florida Senate has introduced a new bill, dubbed the 'Teddy Bridgewater Act', that would allow high school head coaches to spend up to $15,000 per team, per year, on items like food, transportation, and recovery services for their players. This would reverse the current Florida High School Athletic Association bylaws that prohibit such 'impermissible benefits'.

Why it matters

The bill was introduced after former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was suspended as a high school coach for providing these types of benefits to his players. Supporters argue coaches should be able to help student-athletes with basic needs like getting home safely and having access to food, while critics worry the bill could open the door to recruiting abuses.

The details

Senate Bill 178 would allow high school head coaches from any sport to spend up to $15,000 in personal funds per team, per year, on items like food, transportation, and recovery services for their players. This is a change from the current FHSAA bylaws that consider these actions 'impermissible benefits'. The bill was introduced by Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, after an outpouring of support following Teddy Bridgewater's suspension as a high school coach for providing similar benefits to his players.

  • The Florida Senate will debate the bill again on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • If passed and signed by the governor, the legislation would take effect on July 1, 2026.

The players

Teddy Bridgewater

Former NFL quarterback who was suspended as a high school football coach for providing 'impermissible benefits' to his players.

Antonio Seay

Assistant football coach at Miami-Northwestern Senior High School who worked alongside Teddy Bridgewater.

Sen. Shevrin Jones

Florida state senator who introduced Senate Bill 178, dubbed the 'Teddy Bridgewater Act'.

Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)

The governing body for high school sports in Florida that currently prohibits the types of benefits the proposed bill would allow.

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What they’re saying

“We treat them just like our kids, our sons.”

— Antonio Seay, Assistant Football Coach (CBS News Miami)

“Teddy owned up to this outright, saying he provided food, Ubers, and recovery services to his players throughout the season.”

— Sen. Shevrin Jones, Florida State Senator (CBS News Miami)

“They are sometimes the parents for some of these young people, and sometimes these are the one individual or individuals that a lot of these student athletes trust. They should be able to help those student athletes with things like getting home safely after practice they should be able to help them with food if they have not eaten. Those are good faith tactics that I believe should be allowed.”

— Sen. Shevrin Jones, Florida State Senator (CBS News Miami)

What’s next

The bill will be debated on the Florida Senate floor again on Thursday, February 20, 2026. If passed and signed by the governor, the legislation would take effect on July 1, 2026.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation highlights the ongoing debate around the appropriate role of high school coaches and whether they should be able to provide certain benefits to student-athletes, even if done with good intentions. Supporters argue it will help meet basic needs, while critics worry it could open the door to recruiting abuses.