When Tim Tebow was named the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos this week, he immediately became the number-one topic of conversation in every area of sports media. Tebow, now in his second year as an NFL player, will make only his fourth professional start when he takes the field against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 23. Despite his lack of pro playing time, Tebow has a huge fan base that stems from his legendary college career, as well as his sincere religious beliefs; after becoming the youngest college player to win the Heisman trophy, he went to the Philippines for spring break and helped circumcise orphans. (You may now pause to let that sink in.) He recently published a best-selling book (<i>Through My Eyes</i>) and is so popular that the Miami Dolphins will honor his 2008 Florida Gators college championship team this Sunday. To make sure you understand that last part, Tebow will be honored at the home stadium of the team he is trying to beat on the day of the game. Sound bizarre? That’s just a day in the life of Tim Tebow. Let’s look at five great moments from his career.

Finishing a Game with a Broken Leg in High School

One of the characteristics most valued by football players is toughness. We’d say that breaking your leg during a game, continuing to play, and running for a 20-yard touchdown—with a broken leg—qualifies as tough.

See Tim run in this video!

The Jump Pass

Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter, and producer Mark Hudson, who was best friends with the late Bronco superstar Lyle Alzado, tells Snakkle that “Tebow’s college career speaks for itself,” adding that the current Denver QB is “a winner” who can succeed in the NFL if given the chance. When you see plays like this one, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

See Tim jump in this video!

The Promise

After losing to Ole Miss in 2008, Tim Tebow delivered a heartfelt apology to Florida Gators fans. “A lot of good will come of this,” he said. “You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season.” The team did not lose again the rest of the season, and went on to win the national championship. The speech, known as “The Promise,” has been immortalized on a plaque outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

See Tim make the promise in this video!

2010 NFL Draft

Despite his popularity, Tebow chose not to attend the 2010 NFL draft in person. When the Broncos traded up to the 25th spot in order to select him, it caught everyone by surprise—including the ESPN broadcast team. Bleacher Report featured columnist Vin Getz says that while many pundits regarded the pick as “shocking,” he feels that “you have to at least give [Tebow] a consistent chance in the pros. It’s an old story, really—the guy no one believes in, that people think doesn’t have the skills… [maybe] he makes it big, or at least has a respectable career.”

See Tim get drafted in this video!

First NFL Win

Although most of Tebow’s accolades stem from his incredible success at the college level, he has certainly shown the ability to get the job done in the pros. On December 26, 2010, Tebow got his first NFL win against the Houston Texans, engineering a truly thrilling comeback. This highlight video is particularly great because Tebow was wearing a microphone during the game, allowing us to hear his enthusiasm and get a sense of why he has so many fans.

See Tim miked up during his first win in this video!

The Future

Will Tim Tebow do in the NFL what he did in college? “Tim Tebow was a great college quarterback. He is a great leader,” says Cliff Saunders, a host at 101 ESPN Radio in St. Louis. “Because of his leadership abilities, he has a chance to be successful in the NFL. But it’s never going to look pretty. That said, it’s not always about how it looks. It’s about results. And Tebow has gotten results before.”