After an NFL career that sputtered out on multiple teams and an MLB stint that came crashing into an outfield wall, Tim Tebow is resuming his NFL career after a long hiatus from the sport. Reunited with his former head coach, Tebow joins Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars, only now as a tight end. When did Tebow play his last game, and what can realistically be expected from the former Heisman Trophy winner in fantasy football?
When did Tim Tebow play in his last game?
3,053.
The number of days since Tebow last played in an NFL game.
It was December 30, 2012. He made a single, solitary special-teams snap in the New York Jets’ 28-9 loss in what would have just been a footnote in the team’s history. Ryan Fitzpatrick out-dueled Mark Sanchez by throwing his 2 touchdown passes to Tashard Choice and Brad Smith, while C.J. Spiller led the Bills in rushing with 72 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. What a day to remember.
Let’s place some historical reference on this and take a trip down memory lane and see what else was going on when this took place. Adrian Peterson won league MVP. Robert Griffin III was the Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Luke Kuechly was Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Avengers debuted in theaters. Flo Rida was blowing whistles while Carly Rae Jepson was giving out her phone number. We had also just survived extinction from the end of the Mayan calendar.
Oh yeah, Joe Flacco was Super Bowl MVP.
What teams did Tebow play for during his career?
Say whatever you want about Tebow’s professional career. No one can deny he is one of the greatest college players of all time. He became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007, and in 2008, Tebow led Florida to a 13–1 record and its second National Championship in three years. His unwavering faith and outspoken leadership made him one of the most polarizing players heading into the 2010 NFL Draft.
Denver Broncos
Selected at pick No. 25 in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Tebow went to the Denver Broncos. Tebow did not see any action early as a rookie as he was either inactive or DNP for eight of the team’s first 13 games. However, all of this changed in the latter part of the season, as Tebow took over the starting QB role and ushered in “Tebow Time” into the Mile High.
Starting the final three games of the regular season, Tebow went 40 of 81 passing (49.38%) for 651 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. His legs were his biggest weapon, rushing 31 times for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Tebow also started both of the Broncos’ playoff games in 2010, including one of the more memorable plays of the season and the highlight of his NFL career. On the first play of overtime, Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on a slant for an 80-yard touchdown to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Wild Card game. The thrill was short-lived, completing only 9 of 26 passes for 132 yards the following week in a 45-10 loss to New England.
Tebow went 7-4 as a starter with 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions for the Broncos in 2011, but Denver signed Peyton Manning in the offseason. The Broncos then traded Tebow to the New York Jets, as he hoped going to a new team could give him the opportunity he so desired as a starting QB.
New York Jets
Following Tebow’s acquisition, head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano stated that he would be used in the wildcat formation on offense and see his primary role on special teams. Despite the Jets’ faithful calling for Tebow to replace the struggling Sanchez, Ryan held true to his word. Tebow played on a total of 73 offensive snaps and 59 special-teams snaps.
He rushed 32 times for 102 yards and completed 6 of 8 passes for 39 yards in 12 games. Tebow was cut the following April.
New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles
Following his release from the Jets, Tebow signed with the Patriots in 2013 before minicamp. He appeared in three preseason games for the Patriots, going 11 for 30 for 145 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions before being let go again on roster cutdown day.
After working for the SEC Network succeeding his release from the Patriots, Tebow found a new team with which he hoped to resurrect his NFL career — the Philadelphia Eagles. He entered a QB competition with Matt Barkley for the Eagles’ third-string quarterback job. Tebow played all four games in the preseason, going 21 of 36 for 286 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception while rushing for 82 yards and another score. The Eagles released him to trim their roster to 53 players.
Does Tebow have fantasy value at tight end?
Let’s be honest; this is why you are here. Okay, maybe not, but it is a reasonable question to ask. For anyone who played fantasy football, you are well aware of the lack of startable tight end talent. For example, Rodrigo Blankenship, the sixth-ranked kicker (150.0 points), would have been the TE8 over Noah Fant (149.3).
Tebow is an incredible athlete who could be a difference-maker on any offense creative enough to use his skill set. Wait, those were notes from 2010. Scratch that from the record.
Okay, seriously, I know we are all captivated that Tebow is back, and I genuinely hope he finds the success he has long strived for throughout his NFL career. Now at tight end, maybe this is the move he should have made a long time ago. I am sure it helps that his former college coach and neighbor, Urban Meyer, is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach. No one would know how to get more out of him than Meyer.
Could Tebow be the help at tight end the Jaguars need?
Tight end is also a need for Jacksonville’s offense. Chris Manhertz is likely their TE1 but is a blocking tight end more than anything. There is also James O’Shaughnessy, Tyler Davis, Ben Ellefson, and fifth-round selection Luke Farrell. None of these players would be starting on virtually any other NFL roster. Over the last three seasons, these players combined for 67 receptions, 629 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 49 games.
The issue is Tebow is 33 years old and has spent the last several years trying to play baseball in the New York Mets’ farm system with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. If this was 2013, I might be able to say sure why not, but I can’t say that now, not when it has been over 3,000 days since Tebow’s last game. Unless we see some miraculous turn-around, Tebow should not be in fantasy consideration, even as a tight end.
I hope I am wrong and he succeeds. For a guy who has done nothing but play his heart out and try to make a dream come true, I hope he gets the last laugh. It’s Tebow Time.
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Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.