Tim Tebow Ranks Among NFL's Most Liked and Disliked Quarterbacks in National Poll
Even though Tim Tebow hasn't played in a regular season NFL game since 2012, he remains one of America's most liked and disliked quarterbacks among current players, according to a national survey released this month.
The 28-year-old SEC college football analyst is ranked as the fifith most favorite NFL quarterback in a Public Policy Polling survey that posed the question to 410 self described NFL fans. Tebow came in fifth behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton among a list of nine players named in the poll. Respondents also had the option to select a quarterback not named in the list.
Football fans were asked: "Given the choices of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Tim Tebow, and Russell Wilson, who is your favorite NFL Quarterback."
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While Tebow's popularity managed to upstage that of Russell Wilson, Eli Manning and Drew Brees, he also managed to rank highly as people's least favorite NFL quarterback, among the same choices. While Brady was chosen first, Tebow followed behind as the second least favorite quarterback, with Newton coming in third.
Tebow proved to be a strong college football player after he helped the University of Florida Gators win a national championship as the team's starting quarterback in 2008. He was also on the team when it won a championship in 2006 and was the first college sophomore to win a Heisman Trophy in 2007, which honors the best football player in a given season.
Although he has struggled to find his place in the NFL after being drafted to the Denver Broncos in 2010, Tebow signed to the New York Jets in 2012, before getting picked up by the New England Patriots in 2013, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015.
His last regular season game was with the Jets. Last year, Tebow was passed over for an open quarterback position on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Still, he handled what many would view as an upset with grace.
"Thanks @Eagles and Coach Kelly for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love! Romans 8:28 #Blessed," Tebow tweeted back in September.
Former Eagles-turned-San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly opened up about some of the improvements needed from Tebow that prevented him from being signed as the third string QB in Philadelphia.
"Tim's really progressed but we didn't feel like he was good enough to be the three right now," Kelly said when Tebow was cut from the Eagles last year, according to CBS Sports. "He just needs to get out there and get more reps."
Before he was cut from the team, Tebow said he was trying to improve but knew he could not control whether he made the Eagles team or not.
"That's not up to me. I just try to go out there and do what I'm coached and try to improve every day and compete," Tebow told CBS Sports. "I've said this a lot of times to you guys and I really genuinely mean it: I'm not going to worry about what I can't control. It's a blessing being able to come out here and play the game I love."
During his speech at a Liberty University convocation in 2013, Tebow spoke about the impotance of being defined by his faith, instead of football. "In the end, football is just a silly game. Greatness comes from serving," Tebow told the students. "You want to be great? Be a servant. You want to be great? Humble yourself."
