Tim Tebow Part of Group Bringing Pro Soccer to Jacksonville

Tim Tebow is part of an ownership group of a new United Soccer League franchise planned for Jacksonville — the same city where his NFL comeback quickly ended a year ago.

JAXUSL is slated to begin play in the second-tier U.S. pro league in 2025, the USL announced on Tuesday. The league currently has 27 teams with expansion planned for Santa Barbara, Calif., Iowa, and Louisiana, among other regions in future years. 

• Ricky Caplin, founder and CEO of the healthcare IT consulting firm The HCI Group, is the lead investor in JAXUSL. 
• Beyond Tebow, veteran soccer consultant Steve Livingstone and area business leader Antonio “Tony” Allegretti were announced as founders and managing partners of JAXUSL; they will manage the team’s daily operations. 

“I’m thrilled to be part of the new ownership group that seeks to bring some incredible pro teams and world-class facilities to our area that will be accessible to the whole community,” Tebow said in a statement. “I’d like to thank Ricky, Steve, and Tony for presenting this opportunity, which I look forward to being directly involved in, and with my Foundation.” 

JAXUSL will hold a naming competition with fan input, and the team’s website went live Tuesday where season ticket deposits can be made for $25. 

Tebow, 35, spent three seasons in the NFL after a Heisman Trophy-winning college career at the University of Florida where he led the Gators to two BCS National Championship titles under head coach Urban Meyer. 

Meyer signed Tebow to play tight end instead of quarterback before training camp last year. He played one preseason game before Meyer, who was fired midseason, released Tebow. 

Tebow has worked as an analyst for the SEC Network since 2013.