Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow announced that his father, Bob Tebow, has passed away at the age of 78.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Tebow didn’t focus on sadness alone — instead, he opened up in a deeply personal way about his dad’s faith and what this moment means to him.
“Heaven ushered in a hero of the faith last night as my Dad was welcomed home,” he wrote.
Rather than saying his father is gone, Tebow made it clear he sees things differently.
“Many will say sorry for your loss but the truth is he’s not lost… we know exactly where he is. He’s home. Forever.”
In one of the most emotional parts of his message, Tebow shared a recent conversation he had with his dad — asking him what he was most looking forward to.
The answer was simple.
“Jesus.”
Tebow said his father couldn’t wait for that moment — and now, he believes, that wait is finally over.
Alongside the message, Tebow posted a series of family photos that show just how close they were. One especially touching image shows him pushing his dad in a wheelchair at his wedding to Demi-Leigh Tebow back in 2020. Another captures the moment they shared the news of their pregnancy with his parents.
Demi-Leigh also shared her own emotional tribute, offering a different but equally powerful perspective on the man she knew.
“I didn’t get to know the big, tough man everyone talks about,” she wrote. “I got to know the gentle grandpa… the one who loved ice cream, a good laugh, and never met a dog he didn’t like.”
She thanked him for raising the man she loves, calling him a leader, a protector, and someone who truly cared about people.
While she acknowledged the joy of knowing he’s at peace, she didn’t hide the pain either.
“On this side of heaven, the emptiness is real… and it’s heavy.”
Bob Tebow had been battling Parkinson’s disease for years, something Tim first shared publicly back in 2016. Through it all, his faith remained a central part of his life — something his family continues to lean on now.
For Tebow, this isn’t just a goodbye.
It’s a promise that they’ll see each other again.