Demi-Leigh Tebow Admits She’d ‘Never Heard of’ Husband Tim Tebow Before They Met: ‘I Watch Rugby’ (Exclusive)

Before Demi-Leigh Tebow met current husband Tim Tebow, the former Miss Universe had never heard of the beloved football player.

The couple, who have been married since 2020, met in 2018 at the annual Night to Shine event, a global prom for people with special needs. Tim’s foundation supports the cause, and Demi-Leigh got involved because of her late sister Franja, who was diagnosed with a rare condition that caused a delay in neurological development.

Demi-Leigh, 28, recalls meeting Tim, 36, at the “first” Night to Shine event held in her native South Africa. “I always joke that he asked my sister to prom, not me, but that’s what really drew me to him,” Demi-Leigh tells PEOPLE.

– I really haven’t heard of him before – she admits and adds that she even mispronounced his name at first. “I thought his name was Tim Tib-oh,” she laughs. “I never heard of Tim Tib-oh in my life!”

Tim credits Francis with bringing him and Demi-Leigh together. “That’s how we first met, and that first conversation lasted two hours, 24 minutes and six seconds,” he recalls of their interaction in Night to Shine, without interruption. – And there wasn’t a day when we didn’t talk.

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Tim and Demi-Leigh Tebow.

John Hillin

“My sister passed away in 2019, but luckily Tim was able to meet her. She was our little link,” says Demi-Leigh. Now, as the couple prepares for the holidays together, Demi-Leigh is telling PEOPLE about the thoughtful gift she received from her husband on the anniversary of her sister’s death.

To honor Franja on the anniversary of her death, Tim found a thoughtful way to give Demi-Leigh a sentimental reminder of her sister. “For her first anniversary in heaven, Tim made me the cutest necklace with her stone and name engraved on it, and I can wear it as a necklace or a ring,” she shares, adding that “it was really, really sweet.”

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Demi-Leigh also considers the couple’s three dogs to be her favorite gifts. “They are the best gifts I didn’t know I needed,” she says.

This holiday season, the couple has teamed up with Price.com to help fans address all of their holiday gifting needs — even for fuzzy friends!

Demi-Leigh and Tim Tebow.

John Hillin

Tim befriended the company’s CEO and founder, RJ Jain, through a mutual friend from his alma mater, the University of Florida.

Personal connection aside, Demi-Leigh says “the only thing that brought me so close” to working with the company was the tangible benefit to consumers. “It helps you make your money count,” she says, explaining that Price.com offers customers a hands-on opportunity to use accumulated rewards points to donate to a selection of 200,000 charities and organizations.

The team says they wanted to bring more attention to the retail editor to “make it easier for the user to save money, but also make that money count without worrying about charity verification.” He explains, “Sometimes we think we want to make a difference, but where do we go, where do we look? And this gives you 200,000 options of already vetted nonprofits.”

CEO Jain tells PEOPLE, “We look for proven charities and that’s our focus, and we’re very excited to partner with the Tim Tebow Foundation.” And now fans can shop Tim and Demi-Leigh’s picks from their favorite retailers exclusively on Price.com.

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Demi-Leigh, on the other hand, explains that she did not know about her husband’s fame because she grew up in South Africa, where “we watch rugby, not football.” She says: “Ask me anything about rugby, but don’t ask me anything about football.”

Demi-Leigh and Tim Tebow.

John Hillin

Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Tebow Relationship Timeline

Even after marrying the former NFL (and MLB) star, Demi-Leigh is unlikely to be watching football games. “It’s a true story. Don’t ask her about football,” Tim agrees with a laugh.

“I know the right colors to wear and I know how to say go alligators,” adds Demi-Leigh.

On that note, Demi-Leigh says she wasn’t among the new additions to the NFL ratings amid the frenzy surrounding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance.

“I’m pretty sure she’d be more inclined if Swifty was promised she’d be there,” says Tim. “But she’d say, ‘Oh, look, Swifty.’ and I’ll say, ‘No, it’s a football game.’ ”

Mocking the viral trolls the women have been pulling on their NFL fan partners, Demi-Leigh chimes in: “Well, she put football on the map. And her concert was great.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education