Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow‘s return to the NFL has created a lot of buzz.
The 33-year-old has been away from professional football since 2015 yet news of his return caused sales of his jersey to skyrocket.
Tim Tebow has the top 2 selling NFL jerseys, beating out numerous 1st round draft picks like Justin Fields, Najee Harris, & Devonta Smith, along with Super Bowl winning QB, Tom Brady. NFL fans don’t care what sports analysts & Tebow haters think or say. https://t.co/LCNM9qzvTQ
— Shutdown Man (@ShutdownMan) June 1, 2021
Tebow’s personality and platform have always caused a lot of attention to be focused on him, and he handles it well.
However, for the Jaguars to be a success with Tebow on the roster, he has to figure out a way not to be a distraction.
Here are three things he can do to attempt to take the focus off of himself and put it back on his team.
Work Hard
Tebow has never been a tight end in the NFL before.
He is competing with and against players who have been in that position for years.
Running routes, blocking, and establishing timing with the quarterback are new for him.
The good news is that Tebow is a hard worker; nothing in his career has come easily.
Rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence already noted how hard Tebow works.
“He’s just a guy that you want to be around. [His] character is awesome. Had a few conversations with him, and I can already tell, and just a hard worker. No one is going to work harder than him.”
Play Well
If Tebow makes the roster, he needs to play well.
As an NFL quarterback, the microscope intensified on him when he did not play well.
That will not change; fans and the media will spend plenty of time talking about any mistakes or drops he has.
The other part of his game, his stamina, will be closely monitored.
There is a different muscle memory and skill set for being a tight end, and at 33 years old, conditioning to foster that stamina will be more important.
Reportedly, he looks like he is 18; that’s what Coach Meyer’s Jacksonville coaches told him after watching him.
Tebow and Meyer have a good relationship and a winning one so it is not surprising that Meyer took the leap to sign him.
“He looks like he’s 18 year’s old, not 20—whatever he is, 33. And I said, ‘Guys, you don’t understand. Now, this guy is the most competitive maniac you’re ever going to talk to,’ and let’s give it a shot.”
Understand His Role
The quarterback is the central figure on any NFL team.
Tebow needs to understand that this is Trevor Lawrence’s team.
When Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣7️⃣ Trevor Lawrence was 8 years old. pic.twitter.com/70d7JoZBFZ
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) May 28, 2021
Coach Meyer and Lawrence will be the individuals that the media will be seeking out more readily than the Jaguars’ tight end.
Tim Tebow running in TE drills: pic.twitter.com/0bEdhfshys
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) May 27, 2021
Tebow will still have star power, similar to his tight end peers Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce, but it is not at the same level as their quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
His role could evolve and get even more interesting depending on how Lawrence does; Tebow needs to be ready for that.
There is also a possibility he will be inserted in Wildcat plays or other special situations like New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill.
If that happens, things will get even more interesting in Jacksonville.
NEXT: How Long Will Urban Meyer Last With Jacksonville Jaguars?
