Tim Tebow Turned Down $1M Endorsement Deal Because Bill Belichick Told Him To

In 2013, former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots in the hopes of learning from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and revamping his struggling NFL career.

Tim Tebow Turned Down $1M Endorsement Deal Because Bill Belichick Told Him To

He was cut before the start of the regular season.

In his new book Shaken, Tebow reveals one particularly crushing detail from his brief time with the Patriots. Over the summer, Tebow was offered $1 million to appear in a one-day commercial shoot. Before accepting the offer, however, he decided to ask for Belichick’s permission.

The coach said no, and Tebow didn’t do it.

As Tebow recalls:

“I remembered when I had signed with the team in June. Then I’d had an offer on the table to make a one-day appearance endorsing a product for a million-dollar paycheck. I’m sure you’d agree that a million bucks is a lot to make in just twenty-four hours. But I wasn’t quick to say yes.”

He continued: “When I came on the team, Coach and I had a long and deep talk. “I want to make you one of the guys,” he told me. “This is not going to be a media circus. I’ll control it if you do your part. You’re part of a team, Timmy. We’re in this together.

So when the offer for the one-day commercial turned up, I was sure to discuss the opportunity with him. “I want to know what you think, Coach,” I said. “I respect you and I want to fit in. I want to be one of the guys. Should I do it?”

He thought for a moment and then shook his head. “Timmy, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t.”

Tebow then went on to say that he rejected the offer because he was more interested in impressing Belichick, whom he already highly respected, than he was in the money.

Two months later, Tebow again found himself in a conference room with Belichick, although this time the coach broke the news to him that he didn’t quite fit with the team.

“I thought of the endorsement deal I had turned down two months earlier, questioning and maybe even regretting my decision. Was it the wrong choice? If I had said yes, would that have put me in a better situation than where I am right now—sitting in front of two coaches who are firing me without telling me exactly why?

Then, the meeting was over.”

Tebow stated this week in an interview with Fox & Friends, however, that he does not regret his decision today. He has not played in the NFL since spending the preseason with the Eagles in 2015, and is now playing baseball with the New York Mets’ minor league team.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Tim Tebow #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up on the sidelines against the New York Jets in the third quarter during a pre-season game at MetLife Stadium on September 3, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)