From Setbacks to Setups with Tim Tebow

Earlier this year, FaithFi had the opportunity to sit down with Tim Tebow—Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback, and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation. But this wasn’t a conversation about championships or accolades. 

Instead, it focused on the moments that most people would rather forget—the painful setbacks that God can use to shape something far greater than we could ever have imagined.

Tim Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback, and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving vulnerable children and individuals with disabilities through initiatives such as Night to Shine, orphan care, medical outreach, anti-human trafficking efforts, and support for children with profound medical needs.

The Loss That Sparked a Promise

One of those moments came during the 2008 college football season, when the University of Florida suffered an unexpected loss to Ole Miss. It’s a game many fans remember, but for Tebow, it was deeply personal.

As the team’s quarterback and leader, he took responsibility—not just for the plays on the field, but for the team’s mindset, culture, and lack of focus. “We thought we had it in the bag,” he recalled. But after falling behind and ultimately missing a critical extra point, the Gators were handed a humbling defeat.

That moment set the stage for what became one of the most iconic press conferences in college football history—Tebow’s passionate promise that the team would never be outworked again. What few saw, however, was the deeper soul-searching that happened behind the scenes. It was a moment of internal reckoning and spiritual clarity.

Released, Then Redirected

A more recent setback came in 2021, when Tebow signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was released after just one preseason game. “I knew all the right truths,” he said, “but I wasn’t fully living them out. My ego was wrapped up in it.”

Shortly afterward, news broke of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, triggering a humanitarian crisis. As the situation unfolded, the Tim Tebow Foundation mobilized to respond. Tim flew to the Middle East, where he spent time serving in a refugee camp amidst chaos and suffering.

Looking back, he sees God’s timing clearly. “If I hadn’t been cut, I wouldn’t have been there. I wouldn’t have been free to do what I was really called to do—care for the most vulnerable.” What looked like a professional failure turned out to be a divine redirection.

A Calling Rooted in Compassion

The heart behind the Tim Tebow Foundation was planted years earlier, when a 15-year-old Tim met a boy in the jungles of the Philippines. The boy had been born with his feet on backwards and was viewed by many as cursed or disposable.

“I knew God didn’t see him that way,” Tim said. “But I also felt like God was asking me, ‘If you know this boy matters to Me, what are you going to do about it?’”

That moment became the driving force behind the foundation’s mission: to bring faith, hope, and love to those in need of a brighter day in their darkest hour. Today, that mission plays out through global efforts in orphan care, anti-human trafficking, medical outreach, and Night to Shine—a worldwide prom event celebrating individuals with special needs.

From Success to Eternal Significance

Tebow also offered a powerful challenge: What are we really chasing—success or significance?

“Success is about us. Significance is about others. But in God’s economy, He allows us to turn our success—our platform, influence, and resources—into something that matters eternally.”

He referenced Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice.” The question becomes, are our achievements causing others to rejoice, or are they only benefiting ourselves?

This mindset starts with