Sports • American Football

Tony Romo

Tony Romo is an American former professional football quarterback and current NFL television analyst.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tony Romo is an American former professional football quarterback and current National Football League television analyst. He played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2016, then joined CBS Sports as its lead NFL game analyst in 2017. He is also known for his college career at Eastern Illinois University.

Early life and college career

Romo was born in San Diego, California, and attended Eastern Illinois University, where he played quarterback from 1999 to 2002. He earned major Football Championship Subdivision honors, including the Walter Payton Award, and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys

After entering the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2003, Romo developed into the Cowboys' starting quarterback in 2006. He spent his entire 14-year playing career in Dallas and retired following the 2016 season.

Broadcasting career

Romo retired from the NFL in 2017 and immediately joined CBS Sports as a National Football League broadcaster. He has served as the network's lead game analyst alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.

Legacy and statistics

Romo is widely noted for his passing production, efficiency, and improvisational style. Statistical sources list him with 34,183 passing yards, 248 passing touchdowns, and a 97.1 passer rating over his National Football League career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four times.

Key facts

Undrafted in 2003, Romo became Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback in 2006 and played his entire 14-year career with the team.
He was selected to four Pro Bowls during his playing career.
After retiring in 2016, he became CBS Sports' lead National Football League game analyst.
In college, he won the Walter Payton Award and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
His career totals include 34,183 passing yards and 248 passing touchdowns.

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Canadian context

Tony Romo is familiar to Canadian football audiences as a prominent NFL broadcaster heard on CBS telecasts that are widely available in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Tony Romo?

Tony Romo is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Dallas Cowboys and later became a CBS Sports football analyst.

What team did Tony Romo play for?

He played his entire NFL career for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2016.

Where did Tony Romo play college football?

He played college football at Eastern Illinois University from 1999 to 2002.

When did Tony Romo retire from football?

He retired after the 2016 NFL season and announced his broadcasting role in 2017.

What is Tony Romo known for as a broadcaster?

He is known as CBS Sports' lead NFL game analyst and for joining Jim Nantz on the network's top broadcast team.

References

Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tony-Romo
Supports: Birth date and birthplace; NFL quarterback biography; retirement and CBS role.
CBS Sports / Paramount Press Express — https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/talent/?view=tony-romo
Supports: CBS hiring in 2017; lead game analyst role; Cowboys career summary; broadcasting role; college and career highlights.
College Football Hall of Fame — https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/tony-romo-2021/
Supports: Eastern Illinois career; Walter Payton Award; induction; school records and college achievements.
Pro Football Reference — https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RomoTo00.htm
Supports: Career NFL statistics including passing yards, touchdowns, games played, passer rating.
ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/5209/tony-romo
Supports: Player profile, position, college, birthplace, and career statistics.