Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is one of nearly ten former Cowboys nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. As the process begins for voters to select those who will be enshrined next summer, one question looms large – will Romo be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

Tony Romo’s Resume is Impressive, But Lacks in Important Areas

Romo, who was with the Cowboys for 13 years after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois in 2003, led Dallas to four postseason appearances and was selected to four Pro Bowls.

While his NFL career began in 2003, it wasn’t until 2005 that he was named the starting quarterback for America’s Team, and he held that spot until 2015 before injuries ultimately forced him to step away from the field.

Romo holds many of the Cowboys’ all-time quarterback records. Some of the most notable include the team’s record for touchdown passes (248), passing yards (34,183), most games with 300+ passing yards (46), and game-winning drives (29).

Of note — Romo owns the highest career passer rating (97.1) of any quarterback who retired without ever making it to the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for Romo, that’s where the conversation begins when the voters go through the list of nominees and decide who will advance to the next round. Romo’s lack of postseason success, in which the team had a 2-6 record in games he appeared in, will loom large.

Add to the fact that they never advanced beyond the Divisional Round, and many voters will question his candidacy for the most prestigious honor in all of professional football.

That’s especially true when he will be inevitably compared against the 36 quarterbacks who have already been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Only three quarterbacks who didn’t reach the Super Bowl in the Super Bowl Era have ever been enshrined – Warren Moon, Sonny Jurgensen, and Dan Fouts.

And when you compare Romo’s numbers against theirs, it doesn’t fully stack up. Moon, who played 17 seasons, threw for 49,325 yards — 15,142 more than Romo. Fouts, who played 15 seasons, threw for 43,040 yards — 8,857 more than Romo.

Jurgenson, whose stats are most similar to Romo (32,224 yards and 255 touchdowns), might be the one that voters compare side-by-side when discussing Romo.

That said, Jurgensen is recognized by many as the finest pure passer of his time, and Vince Lombardi, who coached him in Washington in 1969, is on record saying, “If we would have had Sonny Jurgensen in Green Bay, we’d never have lost a game.”

The voters will ultimately decide Romo’s fate amongst the 2024 class, but it doesn’t help that there is a bit of a logjam with other players who have arguably better resumes, albeit at different positions. This includes the likes of TE Antonio Gates, LB Patrick Willis, OT Willie Anderson, WR Andre Johnson, and others who are newly eligible and have been eligible for several years.

That, along with other nominees who will be first-ballot locks in the coming years, might make it difficult for Romo to get in this year and future years as well.

What Other Former Dallas Cowboys Were Nominated for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame?

Romo was one of eight former Dallas Cowboys’ to be nominated. The others include:

FB Daryl “Moose” Johnston

Moose was integral to the Dallas Cowboys’ three Super Bowl wins in 1993, 1994, and 1996. He had two-time Pro Bowl selections and finished his career with 294 receptions for 2,227 yards, 232 rushes for 753 yards, and 22 total touchdowns. He is currently the President of the USFL, which may soon merge with the XFL.

S Darren Woodson

Woodson played for the Cowboys his entire 12-year NFL career. The safety retired after the 2003 season as the Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler. He had five Pro Bowl selections and won four Super Bowls with the team. The former safety is also the 21st member added to the Ring of Honor. Woodson was a finalist for the Hall of Fame last year but ultimately didn’t get selected.

G Nate Newton

Newton was a six-time Pro Bowl guard who spent 13 of 14 NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was part of the Super Bowl-winning teams from 1992 to 1995.

C Mark Stepnoski

Stepnoski was a five-time Pro Bowl player from 1992 to 1996. He was part of the team that won two Super Bowls as well.

DT La’Roi Glover

Glover had a 13-year career, three of which he spent with the Cowboys. He made six consecutive Pro Bowls and was a four-time All-Pro selection. He is now a defensive line coach for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL.

LB Keith Brooking

Brooking was a five-time Pro Bowl selection who played in the NFL for 15 seasons, three of which for the Cowboys.