Tim Tebow: Future Coach of Florida?

"He actually always gives me a hard time about that, saying one day how I'm going to be in his seat and coaching here. I don't know. That's something that intrigues me ... being able to coach them as far as life experiences and football."

-- Tim Tebow, on his future as a football coach and on Urban Meyer's encouragement for Tebow to be a coach.

And here was a note buried at the bottom of OnlyGators.com's recap of Urban Meyer's press conference today:

"Meyer also mentioned that he believes Tebow has the intelligence and ability to coach Florida later in his football career."

Consider that for a moment: Tim Tebow returning to Florida as a coach.

It makes sense. Tebow has all the qualities of a great coach -- high football IQ, leadership, recruiting ability, cachet.

Consider for a moment that Tebow's NFL career lasts some number of years -- ranging from a couple to, say, 10. He will be 32. I can guarantee you that Meyer would find room for him on his staff -- wherever he is. So would Dan Mullen. In fact, if Tebow didn't play a down of pro football, he could be a college football head-coach by the time he was in his mid-30s.

Presuming Tebow can get the requisite experience from coaching under Meyer (or a Meyer protege), I could see Tebow having a similar impact in his mid-30s as Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern. (Fitz started coaching almost immediately, and so when he took over the program at age 31, he was already 8 or 9 years into his coaching life.)

All signs point to a 5- to 10-year NFL career for Tebow.

Still: Something intriguing to think about, isn't it?

MORE:
*Ben Volin on "Coach Tebow"
*Mike Bianchi on Tebow as future Florida coach.