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Tim Tebow might be heading home.
According to an ESPN report, it is a “virtual certainty” that Tebow will be a member of his hometown Jaguars in 2013. The Jets are expected to trade or release the polarizing quarterback after the season, according to sources.
Tebow remains extremely popular in Jacksonville, where he spent much of his youth, played high school football and became a Heisman Trophy winner just down the road at the University of Florida.
Two weeks ago the Jets played in Jacksonville and there were a large number of Tebow supporters there, though he did not play in the game.
The Jaguars were the only other serious bidder for Tebow’s services in March when the Broncos ended up trading him to the Jets. It was reported at the time that owner Shahid Khan wanted to bring Tebow to the Jaguars but the coaching staff wanted to stick with Blaine Gabbert, the team’s first-round pick in 2011.
The Jaguars offered the Broncos a fourth-round pick, but the coaching staff would not give Tebow any assurances about playing time. The Jets offered a fourth-round pick plus a sixth-round pick in exchange for the Broncos’ seventh-rounder. They also paid Denver $2.5 million, about half of what the Broncos had paid Tebow in advance.
After a long day of trade talks, the Broncos let Tebow choose between the Jets and Jaguars. He selected the Jets, thinking he would have a better chance to play after talking with Jets coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum.
Tebow has played sparingly with the Jets, getting just 76 offensive snaps. The team passed him over this week, starting Greg McElroy at quarterback over him after deciding to bench Mark Sanchez. A source said this week the Jets will attempt to trade Tebow or release him after the season.
The ESPN report said the Jaguars would like to have Tebow as part of their quarterback competition in 2013. The team is 2-12 and has had poor quarterback play from Gabbert and backup Chad Henne.
The Jaguars seem like the only logical landing spot for Tebow, who many NFL talent evaluators view as incapable of being a starting quarterback.