Tim Tebow Is Raising the Bar for the Superstar Role Model

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow did something awesome on Sunday.

Check that, he did something awesome in addition to what he did to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In leading the Broncos to a thrilling 29-23 overtime victory, Tebow threw for 316 yards and scored three total touchdowns. It was easily the most impressive performance of his young career.

The truly awesome part is what was going on in the background while Tebow was up to his latest heroics.

Colleen O'Connor of The Denver Post has the full story.

While Tebow was doing his thing out on the field, a 16-year-old girl named Bailey Knaub was in the stands taking it all in. She was there as Tebow's special guest, seated in the first level right on the 30-yard line.

Bailey suffers from a rare and serious vascular disorder called Wegener's granulomatosis, which has forced her to undergo more than 70 surgeries in the last decade. A cousin of hers sent a letter to Tebow Foundation's Wish 15, a program that grants wishes for children with serious illnesses, and Tebow responded.

In addition to setting her up with tickets, Tebow met with Bailey before and after the game, and she would leave with an autographed football and a copy of the Bible embossed with her name.

Bailey also got to spend time with Tebow's family, who she says are a very "huggy" family.

In essence, Bailey got the full Tebow experience.

Anybody who has dared to watch an episode of SportsCenter any time in the last five years or so will know that stories like Bailey's are more or less par for the course when it comes to Tebow. A lot of athletes make spectacles of doing kind things for troubled children, but Tebow goes out of his way to do these things. You really can't say that about too many other athletes.

There's no explaining why Tebow does the things he does. He just is who he is, and it just so happens that he is a man who genuinely cares about others. He does things because he can, not because he has to.

Tebow's faith obviously plays a big role in the way he goes about his business, and his faith is a big reason why he is so widely beloved. There are people who are turned off by how freely he expresses his beliefs, to be sure, but there are even more people who love him for it.

Tebow will always be in good standing with those who have latched onto his good deeds and strong faith. His football celebrity has no doubt amplified his influence, but it's gotten to the point where he is more than just a football player for an awful lot of people.

Even for those who view Tebow as nothing more than an athlete, he is still a figure that can be looked up to. His work ethic is legendary, and what we've seen from him over the last several months is his work ethic paying off. He is still not a great football player, but he is making himself a better football player with each passing day.

As a total package, Tebow is therefore a pretty rare breed. He's a good humanitarian man, a hard worker and a humble celebrity. 

There is pressure on professional athletes and NFL players in particular to live up to certain standards, but the bar really isn't all that high. Essentially, professional athletes are expected to not get in trouble and to maintain a professional attitude. Some go above and beyond the call of duty, but a lot fall well short of expectations.

Tebow goes way above and beyond the call of duty. Amazingly, he has a way of making it look easy.

So Tebow is not just a role model for the masses. He's a role model for fellow professional athletes.

Asking all the others to follow Tebow's lead is definitely asking a lot. But if they can accept that the bar has been raised, only good things will happen.