ORLANDO, Fla. _ When Orlando's team begins in the inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football next February, we know Steve Spurrier will be on the sideline.
We now know Tim Tebow won't be on the field.
In an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show on Friday, Spurrier said he texted Tebow to gauge his interest about a return to football, according to Sports Illustrated. Tebow, who is an outfielder-designated hitter with the New York Mets' Class AA affiliate in the Eastern League, declined.
"He said, 'Coach, I'm gonna keep swinging the bat and see what happens,' " Spurrier said. "I told him we'd have a No. 15 down in Orlando waiting for him."
Tebow, 30, has not played a football game since he was with the New York Jets in 2012. The former quarterback completed 47.9 percent (173 of 361) of his passes for 2,422 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 35 career NFL games.
His career highlight came when he led the Denver Broncos to a 29-23 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs after his rookie season in 2010.
Tebow was part of two national championship teams at the University of Florida and won the 2007 Heisman Trophy.
As a baseball player, Tebow appears to be improving. Entering Tuesday night, he is batting .256 with five home runs and 27 RBIs in 64 games with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. He has struck out 83 times in 199 at-bats.
Founded by Charlie Ebersol and former NFL general manager Bill Polian, the AAF has placed franchises in eight cities. Besides Orlando, they are Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and San Diego. Spurrier, 73, will coach Orlando's team.
