Tim Tebow Back in the Spotlight After Trump’s White House Remark About the Jets
Tim Tebow, the former college football legend turned broadcaster, found himself back in the national spotlight thanks to an offhanded comment made by Donald Trump during a White House ceremony. The event was held to honor the University of Florida men’s basketball team for their recent March Madness win, but it quickly shifted focus when Trump took the opportunity to single out Tebow—who was present at the event.
Trump praised Tebow, calling him “one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen” and arguably “the best college football player ever.” However, what truly caught attention was Trump’s trademark dig at the New York Jets, one of Tebow’s former NFL teams. Trump said, “You did damn well in the pros, too. Despite being on the Jets, you did damn well.”
The comment sparked a wave of reactions across social media. The New York Post’s sports page shared the moment on Instagram with the caption, “President Trump had to take a shot at the Jets when he had the chance,” while Fox News ran a story titled, “Trump praises Tim Tebow for NFL success ‘despite being on the Jets’.”
Tebow’s NFL journey, particularly his time with the Jets in 2012, has long been a subject of debate. He had very limited playtime with just eight pass attempts throughout the season and was mainly used in wildcat formations. Before that, he led a memorable playoff win with the Denver Broncos, highlighted by an iconic 88-yard overtime touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Post-NFL, he made attempts to revive his athletic career through minor league baseball with the New York Mets and a brief return to football as a tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite the moment being lighthearted and generating laughter from the crowd, Trump’s comments reignited online discussions about Tebow’s professional career. While few argued against his status as a college football icon—having won two national championships and nearly a third—many were skeptical of calling his NFL stint a “success.”
Fans on platforms like X were quick to challenge the narrative. Some outright called Trump’s comments false, with one user stating, “Tim Tebow never had any NFL success,” while another added, “Tim Tebow was awful in the NFL. Beyond awful.” Critics pointed to Tebow’s underwhelming stats, including a 47.9% pass completion rate and a modest 8–6 win-loss record.
Others reacted with sarcasm, questioning how much success Tebow could truly claim in the league. One fan quipped, “If Tebow’s success is down to Trump’s praise, we might as well start believing in fairy tales.”
Though Trump meant to praise Tebow, his words reopened a longstanding debate over whether Tebow’s NFL career deserved such recognition, or if this was just a nostalgic nod to his college glory days. The reaction shows that while Tebow remains a beloved figure in college football, his legacy in the NFL remains heavily contested.