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Who makes up Louisville football’s Mt. Rushmore of the last decade?

By Jacob Lane

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals warms up prior to their game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals warms up prior to their game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 10: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on October 10, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 10: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on October 10, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Teddy Bridgewater – QB (2011-2013)

There is absolutely no way you can make a list of the four best players of the last decade for Louisville football and not include Teddy Bridgewater, the most admired player in program history.

Sure, there are players that were probably a bit better, established better resumes or went on to become better pros, but nobody was a better human being than Bridgewater. Every Louisville fan has a soft spot for him. In my eyes he is the most adored, admired, loved, whatever adjective you want to use, player in program history.

Bridgewater came into the program with hype not seen at the position as a recruit since Brian Brohm back in the early 2000s, committing to new head coach Charlie Strong very early in his tenure. He instantly became the next “great” quarterback to play for Louisville but no one was prepared for what he’d do on the field.

The thing about Teddy was things were never “sexy,” with him at the helm. He had plenty of big plays don’t get me wrong. No one could forget the touchdown throw against Cincinnati or the numerous touchdown passes in the Sugar Bowl against Florida.

He was the epitome of consistency during an era when Louisville didn’t need big-time plays to win, but whenever Louisville fell behind it was Bridgewater who often put the team on his back.

The end of his sophomore season was stuff legends are made of. In a road game at Rutgers with an opportunity to lock up a BCS bowl berth, Bridgewater wasn’t slated to play against the Scarlet Knights. He got off the bus in Piscataway on crutches for goodness sakes.

But pretty much one good leg and with one good arm, Bridgewater entered the game and somehow, someway willed the Cardinals to victory.

Bridgewater wasn’t the biggest or the fastest, he didn’t have the best arm and wasn’t gifted with the most talent- he was just a great football player. He always made the right play at exactly the right time.

Next. The 50 greatest Cardinals of all time. dark

That’s why any list including top Louisville football players has to include Teddy, perhaps the most beloved Cardinal of all-time.

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