Tim Tebow comes out of ESPN bloodbath with new contract

There’s been a dark cloud above ESPN, except for Tim Tebow.

Just before the first of many layoffs were reported on Monday, ESPN announced that it has agreed to a multi-year extension with the former National Champion and Heisman-winning quarterback.

“I love this game and getting to talk about it every Saturday with the crews on SEC Network and ESPN is a gift I don’t take lightly,” Tebow said in a statement. “SEC fans bring in a passion that never gets old, and I’m grateful I get to keep doing this alongside people who feel like family.”

The statement says that Tebow will continue his duties as a college football analyst on SEC Nation, the SEC Network’s weekly pregame show that airs on Saturday mornings, while also doing making appearances on “College Football Live” and “SportsCenter.”

“Tim is one of the legendary players in the history of college football and he will continue to be a fixture in our coverage on SEC Network and across ESPN,” ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus said in the statement. “Tim’s unrivaled experience in the SEC combined with his knowledge and genuine passion for the game make him one of the sport’s most credible voices, particularly among the SEC Nation fanbase.”

The financial figures of Tebow’s deal remain unknown but came just before a massive round of layoffs at ESPN that included names like Ryan Clark, longtime “SportsCenter” and “Baseball Tonight” host Karl Ravech, and NFL Insider Tom Pelissero, who became a part of the company through the ESPN-NFL Network merger earlier this year.

The network made additional layoffs that included David Lloyd, Stephania Bell, Charles Davis, Cam Newton, Bart Scott, Andreas Hale, and Dan Hajducky.

Since his first stint in the NFL came to an end in 2013, Tebow has been working as a host on “SEC Nation” while making other college football appearances for the network.

Before getting into broadcasting, Tebow was one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football when he led Florida to two National Championships in 2006 and 2008. He also won the Heisman in 2007, when he threw for 32 touchdowns and 3,286 yards, while rushing for 23 touchdowns and 895 yards.