Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush II is among the critics of the Jacksonville Jaguars' decision to sign Tim Tebow.
On Tuesday (May 11), Bush acknowledged that Tebow, who is 33, hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2012 and was signed as a tight end position despite having never previously played the position, was signed to a deal before former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been a free agent since 2017.
"Tebow got a job before Kaepernick. Wait til we play Jacksonville," Bush tweeted with laughing and sleeping symbol emojis."
For the record, the Steelers and Jaguars won't face each other until 2023. Several other players and media personalities, including former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, were also critical of the signing, which reunites Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and two-time national champion, with his former University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer, who took over the same position with the Jaguars this past offseason.
Kaepernick has not appeared in an NFL game since leading the movement of players a knee during the national anthem in 2016 in an effort to draw attention to police brutality and racial injustice. The quarterback settled a lawsuit against the NFL in which he alleged the league colluded to keep him from signing with a team.
On Monday (May 10), NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Jacksonville Jaguars were planning to sign Tebow as a tight end to a one-year deal.
"The #Jaguars are planning to sign QB-turned-TE Tim Tebow to a 1-year deal, per me and @TomPelissero, a deal that could be official in the next week or so. Nothing done yet. But he’ll have a chance to make the team to reunite with his mentor and college head coach Urban Meyer."
Rapoport initially reported Tebow recently participated in a workout for his hometown team prior to the 2021 NFL Draft.
Rapoport reiterated that Tebow's potential role would be "more so than tight end...thinkTaysom Hill," comparing it to the backup quarterback who has played multiple offensive positions for the New Orleans Saints.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Tebow reached out to the Jaguars and requested the tryout from the position many believed would have extended his NFL career.
Tebow, whose size and athleticism dominated collegiate defenses, refused to make the switch to the tight end position after being selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
The two-time national champion led the Broncos to a 7-4 record in 11 regular season starts and a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers during his second season but was released the following offseason after Denver signed Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Peyton Manning as a free agent.
Tebow made sporadic appearances for the New York Jets the following season before once again being released. He then made several preseason appearances for the New England Patriots in 2013 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2015, while balancing his broadcasting career with theSEC Network.
Tebow announced his pursuit of a Major League Baseball career in August 2016 and was invited to the New York Mets' spring training roster multiple times, but ultimately made his highest regular-season appearance for the organization in AAA during the 2019 season.
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