Tim Tebow experienced many highs and lows in his football career. As a sophomore, he won college football’s most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in NCAA football. He also won two national championships with the University of Florida.
Entering the NFL, the hype surrounding him was intense. Although he had some success, it was nowhere near the success he experienced at Florida. Freshmen Abby Frerichs and Jordan Laczkowski agreed that his biggest weakness was that “people had higher expectations of him because of his successful college career,” and that “he had his ups and downs like any quarterback, but people were so hard on him.”
Tebow’s stint in the NFL lasted from 2010-2012 with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, and included brief off-season appearances with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles before he was released. Laczkowski believed he had his chance. She said, “He didn’t need anymore chances; he tried and he failed and now he’s in baseball. I think it’s a great idea because he’s excelling at it and if it makes him happy, great. It’s kind of cool that he’s one of the few that go from one professional sport to another and excel so quickly.”
After his time in the NFL Tebow released a book titled “Through My Eyes” about his life and football experiences. He also experimented with careers in broadcasting and TV. Despite his hiatus from sports, Tebow could not completely walk away and announced that he was going to play baseball.
Despite criticism and skepticism, he signed with the New York Mets on Sept. 8, 2016. On Sept. 28, Tebow played in his first professional game in an Instructional League. In his first at-bat and in dramatic fashion, he left his mark, driving a homerun over the left field fence.