NFL commentator Tony Romo incensed football fans with his calling of Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills. Many viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Romo for comments they perceived as rambling and off-topic.
Sunday’s broadcast got off to an unusual start when early on in the game, Romo referred to his co-host Jim Nantz’s physical appearance while discussing the Eagles’ defensive line. “It’s not sexy like you, Jim,” Romo said, “but it’s the game at its core.”
Social media was perhaps even quicker to pounce on Romo because his “sexy” remark came mere days after Thanksgiving, when he made much-discussed comments about Dolly Parton’s halftime performance.
“She was wearing the Cowboys cheerleading outfit,” Romo said of the performer while grinning broadly at Nantz. “You saw that coming, didn’t you? You said, ‘I think she’s going to go with a little cheerleading outfit tonight.’ I was like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good.’ I mean, she looks amazing, right? She’s wonderful. Who doesn’t like Dolly Parton?”
During the exchange, Nantz seemed slightly uncomfortable as he attempted to segue Romo back into a discussion of the game itself.
Many NFL fans drew connections between Romo’s performance during Sunday’s broadcast and his previous commentary. “Bro has been horned up for both Dolly and Nantz within 3 days lmfao,” wrote user Michael Whitman on X.
“Just listened to a game commentated by Tony Romo, and now Jason Garrett?!” user DoxRock wrote on the platform. “That mute button is looking sexy right now.”
X-user Leighton Crawford summed up Romo’s commentating style in a string of succinct sentences. “I want you to look at this Jim…Take a look up top at this Jim…It’s not as sexy as you Jim…Look at this, Jim, he did a wheel route..Bumass Tony Romo getting paid millions of [dollars].”
When Romo first appeared as a commentator on CBS, fans were delighted by his keen insights and precise predictions. As time has passed, though, the former Dallas Cowboys QB seems to have leaned towards trying to be humorous rather than informative. The change hasn’t sat well with fans, or for that matter the network. CBS signed Romo to a legendary $180 million contract in 2020.
According to a February report from NBC Sports, CBS has long been unsatisfied with Romo’s behavior. They even attempted an “intervention” with the anchor during the 2022 offseason.
Despite the network’s concerns, Romo’s behavior “did not get better,”sports writer Andrew Marchand told John Ourand on their podcast, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast. Explaining the executive’s view of Romo’s evolution, Marchand said: “There’s kind of a fine line between unconventional and undisciplined.”
