Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tony Romo

Discover the career path of Tony Romo, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Tony Romo is a former American football quarterback, renowned for his 13-season career with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. He went undrafted in 2003 but signed with Dallas and became their starting quarterback. Before his NFL career, Romo excelled at Eastern Illinois University, leading the team to an Ohio Valley Conference championship appearance in 2001 and winning the Walter Payton Award in 2002.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1996: Started as Quarterback

In 1996, Tony Romo began his career as the quarterback for the Burlington High School Demons as a junior.

2000: College Football

In 2000, Tony Romo ranked second in Division I-AA in passing efficiency.

2000: Sophomore Season at Eastern Illinois University

In 2000, during his sophomore season at Eastern Illinois University, Tony Romo ranked second in Division I-AA in passing efficiency, and was honored as an All-America honorable mention, an All-Ohio Valley Conference member, and the OVC Player of the Year.

2001: Ohio Valley Conference Championship Appearance

In 2001, Tony Romo made an appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference championship while playing college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers.

October 14, 2002: OVC Player of the Week Honors

On October 14, 2002, Tony Romo earned OVC Player of the Week honors after leading Eastern Illinois to a 25-24 win over Eastern Kentucky.

December 19, 2002: Walter Payton Award Winner

On December 19, 2002, Tony Romo became the first player in Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valley Conference history to win the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top Division I-AA football player.

2003: Helped Cowboys Clinch Playoff Spot

In 2003, Tony Romo aided the Cowboys in clinching a playoff spot, their second since Parcells became coach.

2003: Signing with the Dallas Cowboys

In 2003, Tony Romo signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, beginning his professional football career in the National Football League (NFL).

2003: Signed by Cowboys as Undrafted Free Agent

In 2003, after not receiving an initial invitation to the NFL Combine but later attending, Tony Romo went undrafted but was then signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.

2004: Continued Position on Cowboys Depth Chart

In 2004, Tony Romo faced being cut from the Dallas Cowboys' roster until Quincy Carter was released. The Cowboys released Chad Hutchinson and signed veteran quarterback Vinny Testaverde and traded a third-round draft pick to the Houston Texans for quarterback Drew Henson.

2004: Winning Touchdown in Preseason Game

In 2004, Tony Romo, as the third-string quarterback, rushed for the winning touchdown in a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, marking one of his early career highlights.

2005: Holder for Placekicks

In 2005, Tony Romo served as the holder for placekicks for the Cowboys. After Vinny Testaverde's tenure in Dallas ended, the Cowboys signed veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

2005: Elevated to Second Quarterback

In 2005, Tony Romo was elevated to the Cowboys' second quarterback and had strong showings in the 2005 pre-seasons.

2006: Primary Starter for the Cowboys

In 2006, Tony Romo became the primary starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, after beginning his career in a backup role.

2006: Romo Resumed Holding Duties

In 2006, Tony Romo resumed holding duties for the first time since 2006.

2006: Offered a Draft Pick

In the 2006 offseason, Sean Payton offered a third-round draft pick for Tony Romo, but Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones refused the offer.

2006: Passing Stats

Tony Romo finished the 2006 season ranked seventh in the NFC in passing yards (2,903) and touchdown passes (19).

2007: Finished Season with Playoff Qualification and Pro Bowl Nomination

In 2007, Tony Romo concluded the season with the Cowboys finishing atop the NFC East with a 13-3 record and qualifying for the playoffs. He earned a second consecutive Pro Bowl nomination.

2007: Pro Bowl Appearance

In 2007, Tony Romo played in the Pro Bowl as a substitution for Marc Bulger after Drew Brees' elbow injury. He threw a touchdown and an interception.

2007: Surpassed own record.

Tony Romo's eight 300-yard games were also a team record, surpassing his own record from 2007.

October 17, 2009: Jersey Retirement and Hall of Fame Induction

On October 17, 2009, Eastern Illinois University retired Tony Romo's No. 17 jersey and inducted him into EIU's Hall of Fame.

2009: Record-Breaking Season

Tony Romo finished the 2009 season as the first quarterback in team history to take every snap for a full season. He set new marks for single-season passing yardage with 4,483 yards and became the first Cowboys quarterback to throw more than 20 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season.

December 21, 2010: Placed on Injured Reserve

On December 21, 2010, Tony Romo was placed on injured reserve and replaced by Jon Kitna after suffering a broken left clavicle during a game.

2011: High Quarterback Rating

In 2011, Tony Romo's 102.5 quarterback rating was fourth best in the league and second highest in Cowboys history.

2011: Contribution to Team Touchdowns

In the 2011 NFL season, Tony Romo accounted for 32 of the 39 total touchdowns the Cowboys scored (82.1%). He finished the 2011 season with 4,184 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

March 29, 2013: Cowboys sign Romo to a six-year extension

On March 29, 2013, the Cowboys signed Romo to a six-year extension worth $108 million, with $55 million guaranteed and $25 million in bonuses. This secured him for the remainder of his career and relieved salary cap pressure.

2015: Final Season as Primary Starter

2015 marked Tony Romo's final season as the primary starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.

2016: Retirement and Hiring by CBS Sports

After the 2016 season, Tony Romo retired from the NFL due to a preseason back injury. Shortly after, he was hired by CBS Sports as the lead color analyst for its NFL telecasts.

April 4, 2017: Romo announces NFL retirement

On April 4, 2017, Tony Romo announced his retirement from the NFL and was released by the Cowboys. Following his retirement, Mark Cuban announced that Romo would be a "Maverick for a day" for the Mavericks' final home game of their 2016–17 season.

February 2020: Romo renews contract with CBS

In February 2020, Romo renewed his contract with CBS through 2030, reportedly earning $17 million per year. This made Romo one of the highest-paid personnel in sports broadcasting and "the highest-paid NFL analyst in television history."