Many football fans have wondered if Parker Romo, the kicker for the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL, is related to Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS announcer. The two share an uncommon last name and both play football, so it is natural to assume that they might be family. However, the truth is that Parker Romo and Tony Romo are not related at all. They just happen to have the same surname by coincidence.
Parker Romo’s Background and Career
Parker Romo, whose full name is John Parker Romo, is the son of Brenda and Jimmy Romo. He has two older siblings, Austin and Sara. He was born on March 3, 1999, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended Catholic High School for Boys, where he played soccer and football. He was a two-time all-state kicker and punter in football and a three-time all-state midfielder in soccer.
Parker Romo started his college football career at Central Arkansas in 2016, where he averaged 56 yards per kick on 44 kickoffs. He then transferred to Tulsa in 2018, where he was part of the American Athletic Conference’s top-ranked kickoff coverage unit, averaging 61.1 yards per kickoff with 28 touchdowns. He also attempted five field goals, making two of them.
In 2019, Parker Romo joined Virginia Tech as a walk-on. He kicked off 69 times for the Hokies, with 46 touchbacks. He also punted eight times for an average of 44.3 yards when the regular punter was injured. In 2020, he kicked off 55 times, with 35 touchbacks. He also made his first career field goal against Boston College.
In 2021, Parker Romo had his best season as a kicker for Virginia Tech. He made 18 of 22 field goals (81.8 percent), including seven of 40-plus yards. He also made all 34 point-after attempts to finish the season with 88 points. He continued to kick off for the Hokies, with 64 kicks and 30 touchbacks.
After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Parker Romo signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints on May 1, 2022. However, he was waived by the team on August 31, 2022.
Parker Romo then joined the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL as their kicker for the 2023 season. He made his debut on February 4, 2023, against the Los Angeles Wildcats.
Tony Romo’s Background and Career
Tony Romo, whose full name is Antonio Ramiro Romo, is the son of Joan and Ramiro Romo Jr. He has two younger brothers, Daniel and Jossalyn. He was born on April 21, 1980, in San Diego, California. He grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin, where he attended Burlington High School. He played basketball, baseball and football. He was an all-state quarterback and linebacker in football and an all-state point guard in basketball.
Tony Romo played college football at Eastern Illinois from 1999 to 2002. He was a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and a three-time All-American. He set school records for passing yards (8,212), touchdowns (85), completions (584) and attempts (941). He also won the Walter Payton Award as the best player in Division I-AA in 2002.
Tony Romo signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003. He spent his first three seasons as a backup quarterback behind Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe. He became the starter in Week 7 of the 2006 season after replacing Bledsoe at halftime against the New York Giants.
Tony Romo played for the Cowboys from 2006 to 2016. He led the team to four playoff appearances and won two NFC East titles. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time second-team All-Pro. He holds several franchise records for passing yards (34,183), touchdowns (248), completions (2,829) and attempts (4,335). He also has the fourth-highest career passer rating (97.1) in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts.
Tony Romo retired from playing after the 2016 season due to injuries and became a color commentator for CBS Sports in 2017. He has been widely praised for his insightful analysis and predictions during NFL broadcasts.
Conclusion
Parker Romo and Tony Romo are not related, despite having the same last name and playing the same sport. They have different parents, siblings, birthplaces and college teams. They also have different career paths and achievements in football. The only thing they have in common is their love for the game and their passion for kicking.
According to Sporting News, Parker Romo said he has never met Tony Romo, but he admires him as a player and a person. He also said he does not mind being asked about their possible relation, as long as it does not overshadow his own performance.
“I don’t really care if people ask me about it,” Parker Romo said. “It’s kind of cool to have the same last name as him. He’s a great player and a great guy. I just want to make a name for myself and do my job.”
