Tim Tebow spring training PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – SEPTEMBER 20: Tim Tebow #15 of the New York Mets works out at an instructional league day at Tradition Field on September 20, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

It sounds like Columbia Fireflies’ outfielder and box-office draw Tim Tebow will still be appearing on ESPN as a college football analyst for years to come. ESPN announced Monday that they’ve signed Tebow to a multi-year extension to continue in his role on SEC Network Saturday college football preview show SEC Nation, as well as provide college football analysis on various shows across ESPN. Notably, this doesn’t mean that Tebow is leaving baseball or the New York Mets’ organization, as the release says “Tebow’s role with ESPN will not preclude him from continuing to pursue professional baseball opportunities.”

It’s quite possible we could see Tebow continue to play baseball during the week in the fall, then appear on SEC Nation on Saturdays. That’s what happened last year, with the Mets providing permission for Tebow to fulfill his ESPN duties on weekends. They seem content to have him take days off for ESPN work, and ESPN seems content to use Tebow when he’s available. If neither side’s going to make him choose, we may have several years of Tebow split between playing baseball and providing college football analysis.

It’s notable to see ESPN keep Tebow around despite his other obligations, and that perhaps speaks to both his talent and his popularity. Tebow has won lots of plaudits for his broadcasting work so far and has been a particularly good fit for SEC Nation, but ESPN doesn’t have too many people who are committed to other jobs. The Mets have been quite flexible with Tebow’s ESPN work, though, and it’s worth mentioning that he’s not your average analyst; Tebow has a massive fan base.

ESPN’s also been flexible with Tebow in the past, letting him try out for (and eventually make) the NFL again while under contract to them in 2015. Yes, they could well replace him with some other talented ex-college athlete who wouldn’t be off playing baseball, but they might not get the same ratings. Tebow seems worth hanging onto for now, even if they have to share him with his attempts to play professional baseball. And ESPN executives seem high on him, as evidenced by Stephanie Druley’s comments in the release:

“Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his analysis of college football and surprised many fans with his strong opinions and engaging presence on SEC Nation,” said Stephanie Druley, ESPN senior vice president, event and studio production. “His unique experiences within the SEC and his broad national fan base are huge assets to SEC Nation and ESPN’s larger CFP coverage.”

Of course, things may change before the fall, and this may not be as much of a split. Tebow has been doing a bit better recently, hitting .294 in his last 10 games, but his overall slash line of .242/.330/.363 isn’t screaming to move him up from single-A. It’s possible he eventually gets tired of life in the minors and decides to focus full-time on his ESPN work, perhaps gaining a larger role in their college football coverage in the process, and it’s also possible he leaves baseball to do ESPN and other things, such as his charity work or his appearances on Good Morning America. It’s also conceivable, albeit unlikely, that Tebow starts moving up in the Mets’ organization and is asked to devote more time to baseball and leave ESPN behind. For now, though, it looks like his baseball and ESPN split career will continue as before.

[ESPN Media Zone]

About Andrew Bucholtz

Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.