Teddy Bridgewater called ‘a young Joe Montana’ by Greg Schiano
By Adam Carlson
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater recently got some major praise from a former NFL head coach, comparing him to an NFL legend in an interview.
The Minnesota Vikings are currently 7-2 and in the driver’s seat in the NFC North. Young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been experiencing some growing pains, but has been a big part of the team’s success. And while it’s easy to be impressed with the results of his work, sometimes you hear a quote that makes you think really hard.
It’s that kind of quote that was said in a recent video on the ESPN website. In that video, former NFL head coach Greg Schiano put some heavy praise on the 23-year-old quarterback, comparing him to an NFL legend.
"“This may be a little bit weird, but I look at Teddy Bridgewater and he reminds me of a young Joe Montana. He’s accurate, he’s just mobile enough to give you real fits and he’s a smart quarterback. He’s got weapons around. That’s why I think his ceiling is sneaky.”"
Nov 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) passes against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Green Bay Packers win 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
While I’m personally a huge fan of Teddy Bridgewater and believe that he will continue to grow and develop as a quarterback, this kind of statement is very bold. Bridgewater already has very high expectations on him as a first round draft pick and an NFL starting quarterback, so putting a comparison of a quarterback that some people call the greatest of all time is just more pressure to put on the young man.
Things took a bit of a turn when Schiano added this statement about the young Joe Montana:
"“Remember, when Joe was young, people were questioning, ‘Could he even play in this league?'”"
Ouch. Teddy Bridgewater might not be close to leading the league in passing yards or a regular QB1 in fantasy football, but he’s doing the things necessary to help the Minnesota Vikings win. At no point have I stopped to think that Teddy Bridgewater isn’t suited to be an NFL quarterback.
You can watch more of Greg Schiano’s interview with Mike and Mike in the clip below:
What do you think? Do you seem the same kind of potential in Teddy Bridgewater that a young Joe Montana possessed? Or is Schiano being a bit generous with his comparison? Let me know your opinion in the comments below.