National Football League

Jets' former GM admits Tim Tebow trade was a mistake

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:27 p.m. ET

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Mike Tannenbaum'€˜s tenure as general manager of the New York Jets ended unceremoniously.

After reaching consecutive AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010, the Jets dropped off sharply, posting records of 8-8 and 6-10 before Tannenbaum was fired after the 2012 season.

The former exec was a guest on "The DA Show" on CBS Sports Radio earlier this week, and he addressed some of the missteps he made€ —” especially the one regarding a certain polarizing quarterback.

"€œObviously we made a couple mistakes —€” trading for Tim Tebow, most notably,"€ Tannenbaum said. "€œBut I would say beyond that, but we [could have done a better job with the bottom of our roster], especially toward the end."€

Tannenbaum brought in Tebow before the 2012 season to compete with Mark Sanchez for snaps, but the former Heisman Trophy winner rarely saw the field. Tebow attempted just eight passes as the Jets limped to another 6-10 finish, and he was released at season'€™s end.

Tebow did not play a single snap during the 2013 season after being cut by the New England Patriots during the preseason, and he has since signed with ESPN as a college football analyst. But Tebow repeatedly has stated that he will continue trying to land a job as an NFL quarterback, and Tannenbaum likes his chances.

"Yeah, Tim obviously didn'€™t play well in the preseason with New England, but he'€™s a guy [that'€™s] incredibly passionate about his career,"€ Tannenbaum said. "I would never bet against Tim. We used to have an expression that Tim'€™s the type of guy who'€™s either going to be successful or die trying. His relentlessness and passion — I would think he'€™ll get another opportunity."

Without Tebow or Tannenbaum, the Jets finished this past season 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

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