History of Tony Romo in Timeline

Tony Romo is a former American football quarterback who spent his entire 13-season NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. After a successful college career at Eastern Illinois, where he won the Walter Payton Award, he joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Romo became the Cowboys' starting quarterback and held that position for several years, known for his passing ability and scrambling skills. He is now a football analyst for CBS Sports.

Sections (5)

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

April 21, 1980: Tony Romo's Birth

On April 21, 1980, Antonio Ramiro Romo, later known as Tony Romo, was born. He would become an American football quarterback.

1983: Breaking Passing Touchdown Record

During a Week 12 game, Tony Romo broke Danny White's record (29) from 1983, bringing his season total to 33 passing touchdowns.

1996: Starting as Quarterback

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

1997: All-Racine County and All-State Honors

In the 1997 season, Tony Romo earned All-Racine County football team and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State first team honors while playing for the Burlington High School Demons.

1998: All-Racine County Team

In 1998, Tony Romo joined Caron Butler on the All-Racine County (Wisconsin) team while playing basketball.

2000: Ranked Second in Division I-AA

In 2000, as a sophomore at Eastern Illinois University, Tony Romo ranked second in Division I-AA in passing efficiency.

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

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 to the top Division I-AA football player.

2003: Playoff Spot

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

2003: NFL Combine and Signing with Cowboys

In 2003, Tony Romo received a late invitation to the NFL Combine. Although he went undrafted, he was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys and entered training camp third on the depth chart.

2003: Signing with the Dallas Cowboys

In 2003, Tony Romo signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, marking the beginning of his NFL career.

2004: Winning Preseason Touchdown

In 2004, Tony Romo rushed for the winning touchdown in a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders as the third-string quarterback.

2004: Cowboys Roster Changes

In 2004, the Cowboys released Chad Hutchinson, signed Vinny Testaverde, and traded for Drew Henson. Romo faced being cut until Quincy Carter was released.

2005: Holder for Placekicks and Bledsoe Signing

In 2005, Tony Romo served as the holder for placekicks for the Cowboys. After Vinny Testaverde's departure, the Cowboys signed Drew Bledsoe as their starting quarterback.

2005: Elevated to Second Quarterback

In 2005, Tony Romo was elevated to the Cowboys' second quarterback.

2006: Higher Passer Rating

From 2006 to 2013, Tony Romo held a higher passer rating in the fourth quarter than any other NFL quarterback.

2006: Becoming Cowboys' Primary Starter

In 2006, Tony Romo became the primary starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, a position he held until 2015.

2006: Saints' Draft Pick Offer

In the 2006 offseason, Sean Payton offered a third-round draft pick for Tony Romo, but Jerry Jones declined, asking for a second-round pick.

2006: Holding duties

Tony Romo resumed holding duties for the first time since 2006 after several kicks were missed by kicker Nick Folk due to bad holds by punter Mat McBriar.

January 6, 2007: Fumbled Snap in NFC Wild Card Game

On January 6, 2007, during the NFC Wild Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks, Tony Romo fumbled a snap as the holder for a field goal attempt, leading to a turnover and ultimately contributing to the Cowboys' loss. The Cowboys were trailing 21-20.

September 2007: NFC Offensive Player of the Month and Father's Diagnosis

In September 2007, Tony Romo earned NFC Offensive Player of the Month. Also in September 2007, Romo's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Despite the personal crisis, Romo focused on his career.

2007: Season Achievements and Pro Bowl Nomination

In 2007, Tony Romo had 4,211 passing yards and 36 touchdowns, earning 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 was injured. He threw a touchdown and an interception.

2007: Record for single season passing

In 2009, Tony Romo surpassed his record from 2007 for single season passing yardage, with 4,483 yards.

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

On October 17, 2009, during homecoming weekend, Eastern Illinois University retired Tony Romo's No. 17 jersey and inducted him into EIU's Hall of Fame. Romo is the first Eastern Illinois player to have his number retired.

2009: Record-Breaking Season

In 2009, Tony Romo became the first quarterback in team history to take every snap for a full season. He passed his own mark 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: Placement on Injured Reserve

On December 21, 2010, Tony Romo was placed on injured reserve and replaced by Jon Kitna.

May 28, 2011: Romo marries Candice Crawford

On May 28, 2011, Tony Romo married Candice Crawford, a former Miss Missouri USA, a journalist for Dallas television and the sister of actor Chace Crawford. They had been dating since the summer of 2009 and got engaged on December 16, 2010.

2011: NFL Top 100 Ranking

Despite limited playing time due to injury, Tony Romo was ranked 72nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.

2011: Broken Rib and Punctured Lung

During Week 2 of 2011 against the San Francisco 49ers, Tony Romo suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung but returned to play in the fourth quarter, leading the Cowboys to a game-tying field goal and an overtime victory. Romo earned the NFC's Offensive player of the Week Award.

2011: Fourth Best Quarterback Rating

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

2011: Touchdown Contribution

In the 2011 NFL season, Tony Romo accounted for 32 of the 39 total touchdowns the Cowboys scored (82.1%).

2012: Analyst Ranking

Heading into the 2012 season, Daniel Jeremiah, an NFL.com analyst, ranked Tony Romo as the ninth best quarterback in the league.

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

On March 29, 2013, the Cowboys signed Tony Romo to a six-year contract extension worth $108 million, with $55 million guaranteed and $25 million in bonuses. The deal secured Romo's future with the team and provided much-needed relief from salary cap pressure.

April 2013: Romo undergoes back surgery

In April 2013, Tony Romo underwent back surgery to remove a cyst. While the team described it as a minor procedure, Romo ended up missing all of the mini-camp and organized team activities as a result.

December 27, 2013: Romo undergoes back surgery, placed on injured reserve

On December 27, 2013, Tony Romo underwent back surgery and was placed on injured reserve. Kyle Orton was named the starting quarterback for the final game of the season.

2013: End of Passer Rating Record

In 2013, Tony Romo's time as the NFL quarterback with the highest passer rating in the fourth quarter ended.

2015: End of Starting Position

Tony Romo's time as the Cowboys' primary starter ended in 2015.

2016: Retirement and Hiring by CBS Sports

After the 2016 season, Tony Romo retired from the NFL due to a preseason back injury that led to him losing his starting position. Following his retirement, Romo was hired by CBS Sports to be the lead color analyst for their NFL telecasts.

January 1, 2017: Romo makes season debut in finale

On January 1, 2017, Tony Romo made his season debut in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the final play of his career, he threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams.

April 4, 2017: Romo announces retirement from the NFL

On April 4, 2017, Tony Romo officially announced his retirement from the NFL. Following the announcement, the Cowboys released Romo at his request.

February 2018: Romo receives sponsor's exemption for PGA Tour event

In February 2018, Tony Romo received a sponsor's exemption to play in the PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.