Heartbreaking footage shows Tim Tebow saying final goodbye to his dog

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest things a family can go through. To many people, their pets are a part of the family, and losing them can be as heartbreaking as losing a human. One person who has showcased the true bond between man and dog is NFL legend Tim Tebow, who recently posted a heartbreaking video saying goodbye to his dog, Bronco.

The former quarterback posted a loving tribute to the Rhodesian Ridgeback - who Tebow would refer to as his "son" - after the pooch had to be put to sleep.

You can see the wonderful moment between the two below:

The video, shared to his Instagram on Wednesday, show Tebow sitting down on the ground with Bronco as he feeds him a piece of cheese. An emotional Tebow then breaks down in tears and hugs his four-legged friend.

Writing on Twitter, Tebow said: "One of the toughest goodbyes. Wanted to make a special tribute to the sweetest boy ever – thank you for all the joy you brought and all the memories."

Tebow has also posted a series of images of Bronco to Twitter as a loving tribute:

Following an outpouring of support from his followers, Tebow posted a follow-up post, saying: "Im so thankful and humbled by everyone’s support, prayers and love. I was able to lay Bronco to rest in a really special place. Thank you all for so much encouragement. I love you Bronco, thanks for being the sweetest boy [sic]".

Prior to Bronco's passing, Tebow also wrote to his 4.8 million Twitter followers: "Aunt Patty, thank you for loving him, and thank you to all the other people including Miss Shea and Miss Mindy for sharing so much love with Bronco. If you had the pleasure of meeting Bronco, one of the best dogs ever, I would love to hear your story."

Tebow received Bronco back in 2010 as a gift after he was drafted by the Denver Broncos.

The NFL legend had often spoken about his love of dogs, telling AOL.com in 2018: "For so many people, dogs are our best friends and they provide so much joy and love."