Cut from the Philadelphia Eagles: What now, Tim Tebow?

After being told he’s “not good enough” by the Philadelphia Eagles, what’s next for the polarizing Tim Tebow?

The second coming of Tim Tebow was full of promise and potential, especially with head coach Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles. For a fleeting moment, it seemed he would make the team when Matt Barkley was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, a move that seemed to point to an NFL future for Tebow.

Next: NFL: 15 Biggest Draft Busts Of All-Time

Alas, it was not to be. The Eagles cut Tebow on Saturday, likely ending his second stint in the NFL and leaving fans, industry observers, and perhaps even Tebow himself wondering, “What’s next?”

Here are a few options for Tim Tebow:

1) Quarterback for another NFL team

This is unlikely. Although he stopped Tebowing in the end zone, improved some of his hellacious pass mechanics, and wasn’t horrible in the preseason, he still struggled with some important NFL Quarterbacking 101 skills. Frankly, if he wasn’t good enough to be the Eagles’ third-string guy, he probably won’t find a spot elsewhere.

Plays like this are probably what planted seeds of doubt in Chip Kelly’s mind (and the seeds had probably sprouted into big oak trees when it came time for cuts):

Tim Tebow misses open WR before making a break for the endzone. #BALvsPHI http://t.co/dwqzHSCSJW
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2015

2) Tebow at tight end- or anywhere else but quarterback

There have been “Tebow for Tight End!” grumblings for a while. In 2013 several teams were reportedly interested in Tim Tebow, but not as a quarterback. Rumor had it the Patriots wanted Tebow to convert to tight end. At the time, NFL insider Mike Freeman reported, “Plan, I’m told, is Tebow will study a great deal at tight end.”

In the end, he was too stubborn to change positions. (Tim Tebow filling in for murderer Aaron Hernandez would have been a perfect story line.)

Former quarterback Terrelle Pryor managed to find a home with the Cleveland Browns as a wide receiver after training with star Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown and the legendary Randy Moss. If Tebow had focused his energies on another position as he trained for his big return, he could have increased his chances of becoming an NFL player again. Tebow has a very specific dream, though. NFL quarterback. Not NFL tight end. Reminds me a bit of trying to get a five-year-old’s Halloween costume right. No room for error. If it is a fairy princess with purple wings and a pink sparkly tutu, that’s what it has to be.

3) Tebow in Canada?

Tebow is a great candidate for the Canadian Football League. First, he isn’t good enough to play football in the NFL right now. Second, he is super friendly. Remember when Brian Urlacher pummeled him and Tebow, wearing a mic, got up replying, “Nice hit, Brian!” Yeah. That’s how they do in Canada (and in Indianapolis if you are Andrew Luck). He’ll fit right in.

Chip Kelly apparently told Tebow to spend some time up north and then try again in the NFL.

Chip Kelly told Tim Tebow that he should go get reps in the CFL and then he may look at him again, NFL source said.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) September 5, 2015

This probably won’t work for Tebow. See point No. 2 and the 5-year-old-girl Halloween costume specifications. He has to be a quarterback in the NFL. Not the CFL.

4) Tebow back on the SEC Network

With a huge wardrobe of pastel-colored ties and those wool coats all football commentators like to wear in the fall and winter, Tebow is a great fit for on-air football analysis and commentary. In addition to looking the part, he does know a little bit about football, which made his time on SEC Nation fairly successful. Stephanie Druley, an ESPN senior vice president, said of Tebow, “Tim made his debut at the BCS title game and we were sort of blown away with how prepared he was at the College GameDay meeting and how he held his own with those guys.”

5) Quarterback mentor to Robert Griffin III at the Washington Redskins

Griffin has appeared downtrodden lately, hounded by the media and disliked by his own head coach, Jay Gruden. As a backup with tremendous unfulfilled potential, Griffin will spend this year as a back up to Kirk Cousins in Washington. The move was less about appreciation for Griffin, and more about the guaranteed money the organization would owe him if he left.

I just invented the role of “Quarterback Mentor” for Robert Griffin III (QMRG3). A kind and spiritual guy, Tebow could be a source of support and empathy; a shoulder to cry on. It could lift Griffin’s spirits, and perhaps improve the toxic climate the defines the organization.

This last choice would be closest to Tebow’s original dream. In the NFL and associating closely with a quarterback. Like the five-year-old who needs her Halloween costume “just so,” Tebow won’t stand for anything less than his dream. And, unfortunately for Tebow, it’s become increasingly apparent that his dream is not attainable.

More from NFL

Home/NFL