It is hard to imagine a more frustrating football player to collect than Tony Romo. His career has been marked by peaks, valleys and considerable expectations. But Romo continues to show enough glimpses of greatness to keep demand for his cards high.
A strong quarterback out of Eastern Illinois, Tony Romo put up great numbers in college but was largely overlooked because of the Division I-AA competition. Despite entering the 2003 NFL Draft with some interest, Romo went undrafted and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He spent most of the his early years on the bench, but finally got a chance in 2006. Since then, Tony Romo has been largely a Pro Bowl-calibur quarterback with a reputation for unraveling in the biggest moments.
Playing for “America’s Team” immediately bumps the collecting popularity of Tony Romo cards and memorabilia as the Cowboys have such a devoted and far-reaching fan base. The strong following also leads to increased scrutiny, as Romo has certainly experienced. At this point, the big thing missing from Romo’s resume is postseason success. This keeps him from joining the ranks of other elite quarterback collecting options. Romo’s peak period is already here and if he cannot lead the team deep into the playoffs now, his window will close quickly.
Because he signed as an undrafted rookie with the Cowboys, Tony Romo has less rookie cards than other players from the 2003 rookie class. There are still quite a few options for collectors and two clear standouts that are highlighted below.
Top Tony Romo Rookie Cards
2003 SP Authentic Tony Romo RC #217 Autograph #/1200
Although the SP Authentic autograph card has a higher print run than the Playoff Contenders card, the on-card signature makes this the king of Tony Romo cards – rookie and otherwise. The modern profile has an understated layout and does not detract from the signature.
2003 Playoff Contenders Tony Romo RC #156 Autograph #/999
Playoff Contenders rookie autographs always have a strong following among rookie chasers. Combine that with a low print run and this is one of the most solid Tony Romo cards that a collector can invest in. The hologram sticker is a little overwhelming, though.
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