NFL Rumors: San Francisco 49ers Jarryd Hayne Doomed to Suffer Tim Tebow Fate

By Mitch de Leon
San Francisco 49ers Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Hayne celebrates with Australian fans after the San Francisco 49ers win against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. (Facebook/Jarryd Hayne)

The San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of an overhaul in their system. With the quarterback drama courtesy of Colin Kaepernick, the NFL team has yet to figure out how to rise above the others in the league in the upcoming season. While the return of running back Carlos Hyde is sure to thrill fans of the San Francisco 49ers, the bigger story in the position is the featuring Jarryd Hayne. Fresh off the rugby field last NFL season, the Australian star took his chances in the gridiron in the hopes of becoming a successful football player in the United States. However, it looks like the previous year in the NFL might turn out to be his first and only chance to play for the league. 

Rumor has it that the San Francisco 49ers might cut the Hayne Plane permanently this offseason. With the entry of Chip Kelly as the head coach of the team, speculations are rife that the former Philadelphia Eagles mentor will put an end to the Aussie star's football dreams. As basis for this rumor, fans are pointing to the fate of Tim Tebow. 

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, who wowed the crowd during his audition as backup for Sam Bradford last NFL offseason, was eventually released by Kelly. To explain his decision, the then Philadelphia Eagles head coach noted that Tebow lacked the experience to excel in the league. That is, Kelly wanted Tebow to spend more time in the gridiron before endorsing the Christian star. If this is the fate suffered by a former Denver Broncos quarterback and college football star, then what will be waiting for Hayne - an athlete who spent years in another sport?

"I haven't met him (Kelly) yet so I hope he understands me," said Hayne. He added, but that might take a bit of time because not a lot of Americans do!"

The change in coaching staff also forced the San Francisco 49ers stars to learn completely different styles. That is, Hayne will need to once again adjust. With Kelly helming the playbook, the Hayne Plane must be prepared to adapt to the changes and impress the coach to make it to the 53-man roster. Despite the task, Hayne seems optimistic of the future..

"I'm feeling good, excited to get back over there," he shared. Hayne continued to say, "Definitely just getting the playbook downpat, just getting stuck into that. It's obviously a very unique and complex playbook, Chip Kelly's playbook, so just getting head down and working hard on that...When we get back there we've got two and a half months to get the playbook under our belts and to understand and learn it. It's going to be tough, it's not easy and it's a tricky playbook. But it's exciting as well."

What do you think? Can Jarryd Hayne finally make it in the NFL team's 53-man roster? Or will Chip Kelly be the end of his dream in the football field? Will the San Francisco 49ers sign the Australian rugby star to a longer contract this time?

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories