Tim Tebow bringing ECHL franchise to Lake Tahoe

Tim Tebow owns a Heisman Trophy, an everlasting appeal to diehard football fans... and an ECHL franchise?

In news somehow not assembled by a confused AI bot, a group headed by Tebow gained approval to add an ECHL team in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The so-far-unnamed franchise will be the league’s 29th team and will debut during the 2024-25 season.

“I love that sports can bring people together from all over to enjoy camaraderie, competition, and community impact,” Tebow said, via an ECHL release. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of a group bringing hockey to the Tahoe area for fans and families to create memories for years to come.”

Tebow, 35, is joined by David Hodges, CEO of Hodges Management Group, LLC as co-owners of this Lake Tahoe ECHL expansion team. NHL.com notes that Tebow will remain an investor in the Jacksonville Icemen and the wonderfully named Savannah Ghost Pirates.

At this point, you might be wondering what else Tebow’s been up to. Well, for one thing, it looks like he’s sporting a modified mohawk these days.

In 2016, Tebow tried his hand at professional baseball, spending time in the New York Mets’ system. Tebow announced his retirement from baseball in February 2021. Months later, his former college coach Urban Meyer gave Tebow a try at tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that highly-publicized experiment ended in August 2021. Beyond trying to stay involved in actually playing sports, Tebow’s also worked on his media career, including rubbing elbows with hot take maestro Stephen A. Smith.

He also got married in 2019.

Could a future Lake Tahoe player eventually make the big time? It’s certainly possible.

The ECHL and AHL are the two leagues that serve as feeders for the NHL. During the 2022-23 season, ECHL teams had affiliations with 28 NHL teams. The league lists at least 740 ECHL players who’ve played in the NHL.

If Lake Tahoe players don’t “Tebow” as a goal celebration, we’ve all failed, truly.