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Tim Tebow to Eagles: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Mike Chiari@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 19, 2015

Joe Camporeale/USA Today

It appeared as though Tim Tebow's NFL career had reached its conclusion, but the former Heisman Trophy winner has yet another shot at being a professional quarterback.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported on Sunday that the 27-year-old quarterback would sign with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, before the team's offseason program begins. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported it's a one-year deal and added more information: 

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press


The team confirmed the move on Monday:

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported on Tuesday that the deal was for one year and worth the veteran minimum without any bonuses or incentives. 

The New England Patriots released Tebow on Aug. 31, 2013, which caused most analysts to proclaim that it was the end of the line for Tebow at the NFL level.

Tebow hasn't played an NFL game since the Pats cut him, and all signs pointed toward him taking a new career path. ESPN hired him as an analyst for the SEC Network in December 2013, and he seemed comfortable in front of the camera.

Even so, Tebow never closed the door on an NFL return. He claimed in January 2014 that he had continued to improve as a signal-caller.

"I feel like I'm the best that I've ever been as a quarterback right now," Tebow said, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "I hope I get the opportunity to show that. But I'm also looking forward to being part of SEC Nation and part of ESPN."

Few believed Tebow had a chance to return to the NFL, but that changed due to a surprise development in March, when the Philadelphia Eagles brought him in for a workout, per Schefter:

Philadelphia Eagles @Eagles

OFFICIAL: It's #TebowTime to #FlyEaglesFly. #Eagles sign QB @TimTebow to a one-year contract. http://t.co/Er9XtMnK9q

Although the Eagles didn't sign Tebow at the time, their interest suggested his football days weren't over. 

Tebow's NFL career has been tumultuous, to say the least. He was a bona fide star at the University of Florida, winning two national championships as well as the Heisman Trophy, but many were surprised when the Denver Broncos selected him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.

He gained a huge following while with the Broncos, though, and fan pressure was a contributing factor when it came to him capturing the starting job in 2011. Tebow's statistics were hit-or-miss, but he led Denver to a 7-4 record as a starter, which was good enough to win the AFC West and earn a playoff berth.

Tebow and the Broncos entered their playoff matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers as huge underdogs. However, Tebow threw for more than 300 yards as he orchestrated the upset. Fittingly, the Patriots crushed the Broncos in their next game, which remains the final start of Tebow's career to this point.

Denver signed Peyton Manning following the 2011 campaign and subsequently traded Tebow to the New York Jets. Many believed Tebow could potentially take the starting job from Mark Sanchez, but that never happened, despite Sanchez's subpar play. Head coach Rex Ryan used Tebow as a gadget player, and he made a negligible impact on the team in that role.

New York waived him in 2013 after just one season, and the Patriots eventually scooped him up. Patriots coach Bill Belichick had always been complimentary of Tebow, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was instrumental in drafting him while with the Broncos, but Tebow's time in New England was short-lived. 

Even though Tebow didn't work out in New York, former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum always expected him to catch on somewhere. Tannenbaum expressed confidence in Tebow's NFL future in January 2014 on The Damon Amendolara Show (via CBSSports.com):

Tim obviously didn't play well in the preseason with New England, but he's a guy (that's) incredibly passionate about his career. I would never bet against Tim. We used to have an expression that Tim's the type of guy who's either going to be successful or die trying. His relentlessness and passion—I would think he'll get another opportunity.

It took a long time for Tebow to get that opportunity, but he is now in line to potentially make an impact at the NFL level once again.

If nothing else, he is a great locker room presence, although it bears watching how Chip Kelly and the Eagles handle the extra media attention Tebow will inevitably bring.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.