FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Tim Tebow’s favorite part of his pregame routine happens shortly before kickoff.
That’s when the New York Jets’ backup quarterback finishes warming up and makes his way to a wide-eyed boy or girl waiting for him on the field. No matter how loud the crowd or the magnitude of the game, Tebow is focused only on his young guest.
It’s a moment that occurs every week, and in every city he plays.
They’re his “Wish 15” kids — children with life-threatening illnesses whose wish is to meet their idol. The quarterback’s Tim Tebow Foundation selects one child per game after they’re referred to the foundation’s wish-granting partner, Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Fla. The foundation then sends them and their family to a game, all expenses paid, highlighted by a meet-and-greet with Tebow.
“Honestly, I somewhat do it selfishly because it takes all of the pressure off me,” Tebow said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “You realize what I just did, spending time with this kid, far outweighs whatever I go do on that field.”
Regular-season openers, such as his Jets debut Sunday against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Division rivalries. Playoff games.
For Tebow, they all pale in comparison.
Bailey Knaub of Loveland, Colo., became an instant celebrity in January when Tebow went on and on about what the 16-year-old girl has been through — a few minutes after leading the Broncos to a 29-23 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Knaub has had more than 70 operations for a rare disorder called Wegener’s granulomatosis, which is an inflammation of blood vessels that affects the nose, lungs, kidneys and other organs. And, there was Tebow — before and after the biggest game of his NFL career — spending time with Knaub and her family.
“That girl’s had to deal with so much more than I’ve ever dealt with, and I’m thinking: ‘Man, I have a tough life because I’ve got to go and make money playing a game?’” Tebow said. “It puts things into perspective. For moments, hours and days, we can lose perspective on what really matters.
“For me, before the biggest moments of my professional career, I can invest in someone else.”
It might sound all warm and fuzzy to some, but it’s a passion that far surpasses football for Tebow.
