Fans of Tim Tebow were quick to show their support after the 33-year-old signed a new contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars by boosting his jersey sales to the top of the bestsellers list.
The quarterback turned tight-end’s new No. 85 jersey now leads sales for all men’s, women’s, and youth sizes, topping those of first-round draft picks Trevor Lawrence, whose No. 16 jersey ranks third, and Justin Fields, whose No. 1 jersey ranks second, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Tebow’s jersey sales also surpassed Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady, the 2020 Super Bowl MVP, whose No. 12 jersey ranks seventh, and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, the NFL’s reigning MVP, whose No. 12 jersey ranks ninth.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner remains widely popular to this day, but his return to the NFL came with some backlash.
Tebow has not played in the NFL for six years and has never started at the tight-end position.
Former New York Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said the decision to bring Tebow to the team could take “away from the development” of Lawrence, who was drafted with the first overall pick.
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“Here is a realistic scenario: What happens at the 1-yard line, Tim Tebow scores on a quarterback sneak, and then, on the next drive, Trevor Lawrence throws a Pick 6,” Tannenbaum said on ESPN’s Get Up morning show Friday. “I think Trevor Lawrence is going to be great, but he’s a rookie quarterback, and there is going to be a learning curve.”
“I am sure that Lawrence’s agent has called Jacksonville and said, ‘What are you doing?’ You’re taking away from the development of the most important person in the franchise. You know how I know that — I got the same phone call nine years ago when we traded for Tebow and Mark Sanchez’s agent, rightfully so, said, ‘What are you doing?'” he added.
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Former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye called Tebow’s signing “an insult” in a tweet.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay also took to Twitter to compare Tebow’s return to the League to former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick: ”It’s mind-blowing to me that Kaepernick has no job but Tebow does. No hate toward Tebow just don’t understand.”
Meyer defended the decision to sign Tebow and to spend his team’s other first-round draft pick on running back Travis Etienne as he attempts to improve from the 1-15 record his team posted last season.
“If Tim Tebow or Travis Etienne can help us win, then that’s my job to get them ready to go play,” the coach said.
“I have one job and that is to win games with the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Meyer added.
