Suddenly, he has many reasons to do just that. While his time as a professional football player was short-lived and sometimes derided, and no one really expected to hear from him much again, he turned a post-NFL analyst gig on ESPN into surprisingly robust entertainment stardom-though that shouldnt really surprise anyone, given that hes naturally charming on camera. And hes any time soon. Hes hosting CBS splashy new athletic competition reality show Million Dollar Mile (premiering Wednesday), produced by LeBron James through Springhill Entertainment, the NBA stars production company with Maverick Carter.
I got to know LeBron when I was a Bronco and he was supportive of me there, Tebow told Mens Health ahead of the shows premiere of the connection.
True to its name, Million Dollar Mile looks expensive and, to be fair, kind of ridiculous. With a seven-figure prize on the line, contestants run a mile through a neon-streaked obstacle course while being chased by elite athletes who attempt to dash their dreams of winning the jackpot. The obstacles include scaling a 15-story building, and the set (shot on blocked-off streets of Los Angeles entirely at night) more than faintly resembles Arnold Schwarzeneggers objectively awesome 1987 satirical sci-fi thriller .
Its crazy! Tebow says of his new enterprise in his high-pitched, raspy, Im-so-pumped lilt. The biggest fear I had was losing my voice because thats how much I was yelling and getting hyped for the competitors. Without giving anything away, there were so many amazing finishes. Its life-changing for some people to win. (And yes, because you dont get Tebow to host your reality show without throwing him in the fire, he confirms that you can expect to see him zip-lining down a 15-story building in one episode.)
The 31-year-old hasnt given up sports for his talking-head badge, however. After being traded from the Broncos to the Jets, released, and then released again from both the Patriots and the Eagles, he pursued a baseball career starting in 2016. And it turns out hes pretty damn good, delivering solid results for the New York Mets organization in the minor leagues. He recently just missed his chance at moving to its major-league team, instead getting reassigned to the Syracuse Mets. But the unapologetic Christian, who might just be the most positive person in pro sports , is still on his passion for the game and moving up.
I think itll be a great opportunity. Its one step away from the show, he says of the goal. Im improving every day.
Tebow also has a few choice words of wisdom for anyone who admires how hes been able to make his circuitous journey to bonafide celebrity while still flexing his athletic skills, despite his past struggles. Regret, to no ones surprise, isnt part of the equation.
I would say risk failing, he offers, getting more animated than usual. Failing is not the worst thing. If you talk to a lot of great athletes, they failed over and over and over again, but thats why they succeed because they keep going, they keep trying, they keep giving all they have. Were so afraid of failure and so we dont even try. Youll never make the shot you dont shoot. Not that youre gonna make it or be in the Hall of Fame, but if you give everything you have, the regret you have will be so much less than the regret you would have if you never tired.