Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines to Baptist missionaries, his mother having contracted amoebic dysentery before his birth. The medications used to treat the dysentery during her pregnancy caused a severe placental abruption, but the Tebows decided to carry the baby to term as abortion was against their faith.
The family returned to the United States when Tim was three years old and moved to a farm outside of Jacksonville, Florida, where he and his siblings were home-schooled by their mother. Taking advantage of a state law allowing home-schooled students to compete in high school sports, Tim and his mother moved to Ponte Vedra so he could play football for Allen D. Nease High School.
Tim was named Player of the Year as a junior and Mr. Football his senior year after leading Nease to the Class 4A title. He announced he would be playing for the University of Florida, his parents' alma mater, on December 13, 2005.
At Florida, Tim dominated, throwing for 9,285 yards and 31 touchdowns, and rushing for 2,947 yards and 57 touchdowns. He led the Gators to two SEC titles and two NCAA titles, and was the first player to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a single season.
Despite his impressive college career, pundits doubted he had what it took to make it in the NFL, but he was taken 25th overall in the 2010 draft by the Denver Broncos. He became a sensation in 2011, taking the 1-4 Broncos to an 8-8 record and the AFC West title.
However, Broncos head coach John Fox and Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway were not sold on Tebow Time, and after signing Peyton Manning, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets. A disastrous season followed, and he was released on April 29, 2013.
He signed with the New England Patriots on June 10th but was released on August 31st after a poor preseason performance. In December, he signed with ESPN to be an analyst on its SEC Network, which launched on his 27th birthday.
