Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
By MARK LONG, AP Pro Football Writer
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Stephen B. Morton
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow (85) high fives fans after an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Stephen B. Morton
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow (85) high fives fans after an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Phelan M. Ebenhack
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow (85) sets up for a play during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Phelan M. Ebenhack
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow (85) sets up for a play during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Stephen B. Morton
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow paces the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Stephen B. Morton
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow paces the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Heather Khalifa
The Eagles, who have beaten Atlanta in three of their last four meetings, face new Falcons coach Arthur Smith in his debut and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, a Philadelphia native.
Heather Khalifa
The Eagles, who have beaten Atlanta in three of their last four meetings, face new Falcons coach Arthur Smith in his debut and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, a Philadelphia native.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Charlie Riedel
Steelers open on the road for the seventh year in a row, and it's Ben Roethlisberger against Josh Allen, who has a lot of young Ben Roethlisberger qualities.
Charlie Riedel
Steelers open on the road for the seventh year in a row, and it's Ben Roethlisberger against Josh Allen, who has a lot of young Ben Roethlisberger qualities.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Charles Krupa
If Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is looking to exact revenge against his old team, he won't have to wait long. How does that No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson look?
Charles Krupa
If Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is looking to exact revenge against his old team, he won't have to wait long. How does that No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson look?
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Bruce Kluckhohn
Riley Reiff has gone from left tackle for the Vikings to right tackle for the Bengals, where he'll be blocking for the surgically reconstructed Joe Burrow. Reiff has the unenviable task of keeping Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter at bay.
Bruce Kluckhohn
Riley Reiff has gone from left tackle for the Vikings to right tackle for the Bengals, where he'll be blocking for the surgically reconstructed Joe Burrow. Reiff has the unenviable task of keeping Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter at bay.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Matt Ludtke
Jared Goff makes his debut for the Lions and likely will square off against a familiar foe in Jimmy Garoppolo. But it could be rookie Trey Lance for the 49ers, and the Lions don't have a great track record against quarterbacks playing their first NFL game. They tied Arizona with Kyler Murray in 2019, and lost to the Jets' Darnold (2018) and the Falcons' Matt Ryan (2008).
Matt Ludtke
Jared Goff makes his debut for the Lions and likely will square off against a familiar foe in Jimmy Garoppolo. But it could be rookie Trey Lance for the 49ers, and the Lions don't have a great track record against quarterbacks playing their first NFL game. They tied Arizona with Kyler Murray in 2019, and lost to the Jets' Darnold (2018) and the Falcons' Matt Ryan (2008).
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Gerald Herbert
One of two divisional matchups in Week 1. The retooled Texans, coming off a 4-12 season, get the first look at No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, coach Urban Meyer ... and the repositioned Tim Tebow?
Gerald Herbert
One of two divisional matchups in Week 1. The retooled Texans, coming off a 4-12 season, get the first look at No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, coach Urban Meyer ... and the repositioned Tim Tebow?
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Jennifer Stewart
Quarterback Carson Wentz gets a fresh start with the Colts and another crack at Seattle. His Philadelphia teams were 0-5 against the Russell Wilson-led Seahawks.
Jennifer Stewart
Quarterback Carson Wentz gets a fresh start with the Colts and another crack at Seattle. His Philadelphia teams were 0-5 against the Russell Wilson-led Seahawks.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Kyusung Gong
The Titans will open at home for the first time since 2017 and will face a familiar nightmare in Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a former AFC South terror. On defense for Arizona will be new cornerback Malcolm Butler, formerly of Tennessee.
Kyusung Gong
The Titans will open at home for the first time since 2017 and will face a familiar nightmare in Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a former AFC South terror. On defense for Arizona will be new cornerback Malcolm Butler, formerly of Tennessee.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Charlie Riedel
It's Baker Mayfield versus Patrick Mahomes in a rematch of a divisional playoff game that the Chiefs won on their way to the Super Bowl against Tampa Bay.
Charlie Riedel
It's Baker Mayfield versus Patrick Mahomes in a rematch of a divisional playoff game that the Chiefs won on their way to the Super Bowl against Tampa Bay.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Adrian Kraus
The other Week 1 divisional matchup. It's the fourth time in the last decade that these AFC East foes have faced each other in an opener. Both are trying to figure it out at quarterback, and it could well be second-year Tua Tagovailoa against rookie Mac Jones.
Adrian Kraus
The other Week 1 divisional matchup. It's the fourth time in the last decade that these AFC East foes have faced each other in an opener. Both are trying to figure it out at quarterback, and it could well be second-year Tua Tagovailoa against rookie Mac Jones.
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Morry Gash
Will Aaron Rodgers play another game for Green Bay? Brett Favre has joked that Rodgers could wind up as quarterback of the Saints. Rodgers reportedly dismissed that possibility in a text back to Favre, but wouldn't that be wild?
Morry Gash
Will Aaron Rodgers play another game for Green Bay? Brett Favre has joked that Rodgers could wind up as quarterback of the Saints. Rodgers reportedly dismissed that possibility in a text back to Favre, but wouldn't that be wild?
Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
Seth Wenig
Now, there's a distinct possibility to Rodgers winding up in Denver, and that would add juice to this opener. The Broncos played host to the Giants on Monday, Sept. 10, 2001 — one day before the 9/11 terror attacks. This game will be played one day after the solemn 20th anniversary of that tragic day.
Seth Wenig
Now, there's a distinct possibility to Rodgers winding up in Denver, and that would add juice to this opener. The Broncos played host to the Giants on Monday, Sept. 10, 2001 — one day before the 9/11 terror attacks. This game will be played one day after the solemn 20th anniversary of that tragic day.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow’s NFL comeback is seemingly over.
The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Tebow on Tuesday, parting with the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who switched from quarterback to tight end in hopes of rejuvenating his pro football career.
Tebow’s blocking ranged from awkward to awful in Jacksonville’s preseason opener against Cleveland on Saturday night, his 34th birthday. He failed to get a catch and played no snaps on special teams.
“Thankful for the highs and even the lows, the opportunities, and the setbacks,” Tebow posted on Twitter. “I’ve never wanted to make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m grateful for the chance to have pursued a dream.”
Coach Urban Meyer, who recruited Tebow to nearby Florida and gave him another NFL chance, is scheduled to address is decision after practice.
Tebow opened training camp as Jacksonville’s fourth- or fifth-string tight end after switching positions this year. He was trying to return to the NFL after spending the previous five years in the New York Mets’ organization. He hit .223 with 18 home runs and 107 RBIs while never making it to the big leagues.
He asked Meyer for a tryout after retiring from baseball in January. Meyer obliged and ended up giving him a one-year contract worth $920,000, the minimum for a player with three accrued NFL seasons. The low-risk deal includes no guaranteed money, so Tebow would have to make the team to earn a dime.
And that was always the uncertain part. Jacksonville entered camp with three tight ends essentially locked into roster spots: run-blocking specialist Chris Manhertz, fellow veteran James O’Shaughnessy and fifth-round draft pick Luke Farrell.
It quickly became clear that Tebow was less of a pass-catching option than Tyler Davis, a sixth-round selection in 2020, and second-year pro Ben Ellefson.
Denver selected Tebow in the first round in 2010. He led the Broncos to a playoff victory in his second season, but never developed the consistency to be a dependable NFL quarterback. He also failed to stick with the New York Jets, New England and Philadelphia.
