The Philadelphia Eagles officially signed Tim Tebow to a one-year deal, the team announced. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the two sides began working on the framework of the deal when Tebow worked out for the Eagles in March. The deal was then finalized on Sunday, according to a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, allowing Tebow to join the team ahead of the start of offseason workouts.
Tebow, 27, has been out of the NFL since the 2013 preseason when he played for the New England Patriots. His last action in a regular season game was in December 2012 when he played for the New York Jets.
The Eagles haven't shied away from big moves this offseason, trading running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills and quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams in March. In the deal that jettisoned Foles, the Eagles acquired signal caller Sam Bradford, who is the projected starter for the team in 2015.
Tim Tebow in Philly
Tim Tebow in Philly
Tebow won two BCS national championships and a Heisman Trophy during his time with the Florida Gators and was a two-time All-American. The Denver Broncos selected Tebow with a first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, but traded him to the Jets in 2012.
Prior to the trade, Tebow started 14 games for the Broncos and led the team to a 7-4 record in 2011. Tebow also led them to an overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs that featured an 80-yard touchdown pass from Tebow to Demaryius Thomas.
Tebow has an 8-6 career record as a starter, but completed only 47.9 percent of his passes in the NFL with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Following his release from the Patriots, Tebow worked with quarterback coach Tom House and has reportedly made improvements to his throwing motion.
This will put Tebow's ESPN broadcasting career, in which he had found success in his time away from the NFL, on hold. John Wildhack, ESPN's executive vice president of programming and production, released a statement shortly after Tebow signed his contract with the Eagles:
"We appreciate Tim’s contributions to the launch of SEC Network and wish him all the best as he pursues his NFL dream. Tim quickly established a tremendous rapport with everyone he worked with in front of and behind the camera. He has a tireless work ethic and a unique passion for football. Tim developed quickly into an excellent analyst. He has a home at ESPN when his playing career is done."
Beginning in December 2013, Tebow was added as a college football analyst by the network and also served as a co-host on SEC Network's SEC Nation.