Tim Tebow’s dog Bronco passes away earlier this week

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Former NFL quaterback Tim Tebow looks on during warm ups prior to the CFP National Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Former NFL quaterback Tim Tebow looks on during warm ups prior to the CFP National Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Tim Tebow’s dog Bronco has passed away earlier this week.

In a sad case of celebrity dog news, Tim Tebow’s dog Bronco passed away earlier this week.

Dog O’Day learned of this through Fox News.

According to the Sporting News, Tebow was given the dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, as a birthday present from his brother Robby in 2010, not long after being drafted by Denver.

He posted several goodbye messages on his social media accounts throughout the week.

Tim Tebow ruled college football in the late 2000s with Holland the Pup‘s Florida Gators, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007, but his NFL career was another story. In two seasons with the Broncos he took them to the playoffs, yet was dropped immediately when Peyton Manning became available (and who the team won Super Bowl 50 with).

In 2012 he was picked up by the New York Jets, who despite being terrible and suffering from bad PR during Brett Favre’s brief stay there, had no intention of giving him significant playing time.

In 35 career games, 16 of which he started, he completed 173 of 361 passes for 2,422 yards and 17 touchdowns with nine interceptions.

He also had 197 rushing attempts for 989 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots as little more than PR stunts,  before deciding to try to pull a Michael Jordan and give professional baseball a try with the New York Mets organization.

In three minor-league seasons so far, Tebow has 210 hits, 48 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs, 107 each of runs scored and RBIs, five stolen bases and 85 walks.

Those aren’t excellent stats,  but considering that he’s been able to be adequate at a sport that he hadn’t played in over a decade is pretty impressive.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks were bred to hunt lions in Africa, so they seem like they would be near the bottom of the rankings for good pet material, especially when considering that Tebow’s brand is so family-friendly.

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But still, it’s very sad that Bronco got old and died, and we hope that the loss will heal soon.