Franklin Graham praises Tim Tebow for being a true leader 'on and off the field'

Tim Tebow has found a fan in Reverend Franklin Graham, not only for his athletic skills but also for his deep-rooted Christian faith. Reuters

Whoever knew that Reverend Franklin Graham is such a sports-minded evangelist? He recently shared his excitement for the new football season on his Facebook page and revealed one of the players he will be cheering for enthusiastically.

"Football season is around the corner! I don't have a favourite team, but I do have favourite players that I follow," he wrote. "One of them is Tim Tebow. He's not only a great quarterback who can throw and run the ball, but he's also a true leader both on and off the field. Most importantly, Tim lives out his Christian faith at every turn. God bless him — I hope he has a great season! He's already a winner."

Tebow will be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles this season, and people are already speculating that he will make a huge impact on the team. The Eagles' outside linebacker Brandon Graham told the Detroit radio station WGPR (107.5 FM) that he believes Tebow will play "a lot."

"Tim Tebow is going to shock a lot of people, because he's going to make the team," Brandon said. "And I think he will play a lot."

The Christian football player might be passionate about his sport, but there is actually something he values more—charity work, and this is probably what impressed Graham in the first place. Tebow started the Tim Tebow Foundation back in 2010 to help sick children find happiness and enjoy some respite from their treatments as well as support families who choose to welcome adopted children to their homes.

"Everyone needs to do something greater than themselves, to do something for other people," Tebow earlier told PEOPLE. "That's why we're here; that's why we're always looking for more ways that the Foundation can help others. I want to build a legacy that is greater than football."

According to him, his foundation aims to spread "faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."

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