The good news continues regarding NFL alumni returning to coach their high school alma maters.
Former QB Teddy Bridgewater (2014-23 with six NFL clubs) took over the football program at Miami Northwestern this past season. He coached his young team to a 12-2 overall record and won the Florida Class 3A state championship last Saturday.
Meanwhile on the West Coast, NFL QB alum and 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer was announced last Friday as the new head coach at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Southern California. Palmer graduated from the school in 1998 after he led his team to two state sectional titles and a 32-2-1 record as a starter.
“Carson Palmer was entrusted with the program as a player and now is entrusted as the program’s’ head coach,” said school VP-Athletics Jim Hartigan. “I know we will be in good hands. I am excited to see Carson lead our team. He is a player-centric leader who will surround himself with coaches with his same desire to continues the success of our team.”
After his high school graduation, Palmer moved up the road from Santa Margarita to enroll at the University of Southern California. He capped his successful collegiate career by being named the league’s overall number one pick by the Bengals in the 2003 Draft. He later played for the Raiders and Cardinals in a 14-year career and was named to the Pro Bowl three different seasons.
Palmer’s young family includes his teenage son Fletcher who attends Santa Margarita. Carson was a volunteer assistant coach for the school’s freshman team this past season and his son was starting quarterback. The school finished the season with an interim varsity head coach. When the school opened a search for a new head coach, Palmer was the logical first choice.
“I accepted the invitation to take over the varsity because I saw an opportunity to not only mentor my son but also to give back to a program that gave me so much,” says Palmer. “I’m really excited to lead this program going forward because it has such a storied past.”
We at NFL Alumni wish rookie head coach Carson Palmer much success in a very competitive high school football community in Southern California. We also congratulate Coach Teddy Bridgewater on his Florida state title and salute all of you who coach our great sport on the high school, college and professional level.
