Tony Romo facts for kids
Romo with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015
|
|||||||||||||
| No. 9 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | April 21, 1980 San Diego, California, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Burlington (Burlington, Wisconsin) |
||||||||||||
| College: | Eastern Illinois (1999–2002) | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2003 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
|
College Football Hall of Fame
|
|||||||||||||
Tony Romo (born April 21, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. He played for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. There, he won the Walter Payton Award in 2002, which is given to the best player in his division.
Romo started his NFL career as a backup player. From 2006 to 2015, he was the main starting quarterback for the Cowboys. He helped the team reach the playoffs four times. Romo retired after the 2016 season. After retiring, he became a lead sports commentator for CBS Sports.
Tony Romo holds several records for the Dallas Cowboys. These include the most passing touchdowns and passing yards. He also had the most games with over 300 passing yards. In 2021, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Tony Romo was born in San Diego, California. His parents are Ramiro Romo Jr. and Joan Jakubowski. His family later moved to Burlington, Wisconsin. His father worked in construction, and his mother was a grocery store clerk.
As a child, Romo played baseball and was chosen for the Little League All-Star team. His grandfather, Ramiro Romo Sr., moved to the United States from Mexico. He often said Tony's success showed the great opportunities available in the U.S.
Romo became the starting quarterback for the Burlington High School Demons in 1996. In 1997, he received several honors, including being named to the All-Racine County football team. Romo also played basketball, golf, and tennis. He was a talented basketball player, scoring 1,080 points, which was a school record. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1998.
College Football Career
Romo went to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. He played for the NCAA Division I-AA Eastern Illinois Panthers football team. In 2000, as a sophomore, he was one of the best passers in his division. He completed 59% of his passes for 2,583 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.
As a junior, Romo continued to excel. He led his division in passing efficiency. On December 19, 2002, Romo made history. He became the first player from Eastern Illinois or the Ohio Valley Conference to win the Walter Payton Award. This award goes to the top Division I-AA football player. He finished his college career with 85 touchdown passes, a record for his school and conference. He also had 8,212 passing yards.
In his senior year, Romo set more school records. He completed 258 passes for 3,418 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown. Along with the Walter Payton Award, he was named an All-American. He also won the OVC Player of the Year award for the third year in a row.
On October 17, 2009, Eastern Illinois University honored Romo. They retired his jersey number 17 and added him to their Hall of Fame. He was the first Eastern Illinois player to have his number retired. In 2021, Romo was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Tony Romo was not chosen by any NFL team in the 2003 draft. However, the Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted rookie. He started his career as the third-string quarterback. For a few years, he also served as the holder for field goals.
Becoming a Starter (2006)
Romo began the 2006 season as a backup. In Week 6, he played his first regular season game. He threw his first NFL touchdown pass to Terrell Owens. A week later, he became the starting quarterback for the Cowboys. In his first game as a starter, he led the Cowboys to a 35–14 victory.
In November 2006, Romo helped the Cowboys beat the undefeated Indianapolis Colts. He also had a great game on Thanksgiving Day, throwing for 306 yards and five touchdowns. Romo helped the Cowboys reach the playoffs. He finished the season with 2,903 passing yards and 19 touchdowns.
In the playoffs, the Cowboys played the Seattle Seahawks. Romo was the holder for a game-winning field goal attempt. He fumbled the snap, and the Cowboys lost the game. Despite this, Romo was chosen to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl.
Leading the Cowboys (2007–2014)
The 2007 season was a big year for Romo. He threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns in the first game. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. In October, he signed a six-year contract extension with the Cowboys.
During the season, Romo broke the Cowboys' record for most touchdown passes in a season with 36. He also became the first Cowboys quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards in a season. The Cowboys finished with a 13–3 record and made the playoffs. Romo earned his second Pro Bowl nomination. In the playoffs, the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants.
In 2008, Romo continued to lead the team. He threw for 320 yards in the first game, even after getting a cut on his chin. He signed a big endorsement deal with Starter clothing. The Cowboys had an up-and-down season and missed the playoffs.
The 2009 season was another strong one for Romo. He set a career-high with 353 passing yards in the first game. He also threw for a career-high 392 yards in another game. Romo became the first Cowboys quarterback to play every snap in a full season. He set a new team record with 4,483 passing yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time. The Cowboys won their first playoff game in 13 years, beating the Philadelphia Eagles. However, they lost in the next round to the Minnesota Vikings.
In 2010, Romo had a career-high 406 passing yards in a game. However, his season ended early in Week 7 when he broke his left collarbone. He was placed on injured reserve.
Romo returned in 2011 and had a strong season. His quarterback rating was one of the best in the league. In Week 2, he played through a broken rib and a punctured lung to lead the Cowboys to a comeback win. He finished the season with 4,184 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
In 2012, Romo continued to set records. He passed Troy Aikman for the most career touchdown passes for the Cowboys. He also surpassed 25,000 career passing yards. The Cowboys finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs.
In 2013, the Cowboys signed Romo to a six-year contract extension. He started the season with a win, even after a rib injury. In Week 5, he set a franchise record with 506 passing yards and five touchdowns against the Denver Broncos. Romo led a game-winning touchdown drive in Week 16, but it was later found he had a season-ending back injury. He finished the season with 3,828 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
The 2014 season was one of Romo's best. After a tough start, the Cowboys won six games in a row. They beat the defending champion Seattle Seahawks on the road. Romo suffered another back injury in Week 8 but returned quickly. He led the Cowboys to a 12–4 record and their first division title since 2009. Romo set a team record with a 90% completion rate in a game. He led the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating. He was named to the Pro Bowl and finished third in MVP voting. In the playoffs, Romo led a comeback win against the Detroit Lions. However, the Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers in a close game with a controversial play.
Injuries and Retirement (2015–2016)
Romo started the 2015 season with a game-winning pass against the New York Giants. However, he broke his left collarbone in Week 2. This injury kept him out for eight weeks. The Cowboys struggled without him. He returned in Week 11, but re-injured his collarbone in Week 12, ending his season.
In 2016, Romo suffered another back injury in the preseason. This caused him to miss the first 10 games. Rookie Dak Prescott took over as the starting quarterback and played very well. Romo decided to become the backup when he returned. He played briefly in the final regular season game, throwing a touchdown pass in what would be his last play.
On April 4, 2017, Tony Romo announced his retirement from the NFL.
Broadcasting Career
After retiring from football, Tony Romo joined CBS Sports as a lead sports commentator. He works alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz. Romo quickly became popular for his ability to predict plays and explain the game. Many people praised his energy and insights.
In 2018, Romo and Nantz received high praise for their commentary during the AFC Championship Game. Romo's ability to predict plays was especially noted. He called Super Bowl LIII with Nantz. The New Yorker magazine called him a "genius of football commentary."
In 2020, Romo signed a new contract with CBS, making him one of the highest-paid sports broadcasters. However, in 2021 and 2022, some critics began to say his commentary was not as sharp. They mentioned he sometimes talked too much or seemed confused. Despite this, he continued to be a prominent voice in NFL broadcasting. Romo called Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
Personal Life
Tony Romo is married to Candice Crawford. She was formerly Miss Missouri USA and a journalist. They got married on May 28, 2011. The couple has three sons: Hawkins Crawford Romo, Rivers Romo, and Jones McCoy Romo.
Romo is also a very good amateur golfer. He has tried to qualify for professional golf tournaments. In 2018, he won the American Century Championship, which is a celebrity golf tournament. Famous golfer Tiger Woods has said Romo is one of the best celebrity golfers he has played with.
Romo is a Christian. He has spoken about how his faith helps him handle the challenges of professional football.
Images for kids
-
Romo in 2009
-
Romo in 2010
-
Tony Romo with Tiger Woods at the AT&T National
.png)
See also
In Spanish: Tony Romo para niños
