Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow considered for Florida House of Representatives
Former Philadelphia Eagles star Tim Tebow is reportedly being considered for the Florida House of Representatives.
Republican sources say they are reaching out to the Heisman Trophy winner after current Florida Rep. Ander Crenshaw announced his surprise plans to retire at the end of the year.
Tebow has not directly said he wants to have a career in politics since being released from his Eagles contract last September.
Former Philadelphia Eagles star Tim Tebow is reportedly being considered for the Florida House of Representatives
But he did hint that he would like to be in a position to ‘make a difference’ during a recent interview.
‘We do not pick favorites,’ a key party strategist told the Washington Examiner, but ‘obviously a huge Florida football star would be an interesting candidate for our side of the aisle.’
A Republican source said that that the football star could ‘hit the ground running’ if her was to go for the upcoming August 30 primary.
Tebow, 28, is popular in his home state of Florida where he played high school football before spending four years at the University of Florida where he claimed the 2007 Heisman Trophy.
He was also named a first-team All-American in 2007 and 2008.
The former quarterback is also a devout Christian and would even get down on one knee and pray on the field in a move dubbed ‘Tebowing.’
Since the rumors emerged that Tebow was being considered to represent Florida’s 4th Congressional District, a conservative website has come out as backing the former quarterback as ‘the perfect fit’.
Red Alert Politics praised his work with children through the Tim Tebow Foundation in their push for Tebow as Florida representative.
Republican sources say they are reaching out to the Heisman Trophy winner after current Florida Rep. Ander Crenshaw announced his surprise plans to retire at the end of the year (pictured in October 2012 playing for the New York Jets)
Tebow (pictured at an ESPN party in February) has not directly said he wants to have a career in politics since being released from his Eagles contract last September
They also welcomed his popularity and the 28-year-old’s ‘millennial appeal’ which they claimed could attract younger Republican voters.
‘Talks have circled around a sheriff, a state senator, and a mayor,’ the editors wrote. ‘But politicos have left off the best choice in this district: Tim Tebow.’
‘If you think we’re joking, we’re not,’ they add, listing a series of personal traits and accomplishments they say have Tebow well-positioned to run.
Tebow played three years in the NFL, beginning with the Denver Broncos after being drafted as starting quarterback. He played 11 games with the team including their AFC West title win in 2011.
He also had brief stints with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and his final team, the Philadelphia Eagles last year.
Brian Walsh, a GOP strategist, warned that simply being a successful NFL player did not qualify someone for the House of Representatives.
But he said that Tebow’s popularity and ‘strong values’ meant he would be a good potential candidate.
‘Like his career with the Denver Broncos, the primary game is going be extremely competitive so Tebow may have to once again come from behind late in the 4th quarter in order to pull this off,’ he told the Examiner.
‘If he were to become the Republican nominee, he would be a shoo-in because it is a safe Republican seat,’ added communications strategist Ron Bonjean.