In a very surprising move, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has chosen to retire from the NFL rather than move on to play for any team other than the Cowboys. Dallas had announced they were finally releasing Romo today and Tony let the world know that his days of playing football had come to an end.
The legacy of Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo came to the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent after setting records as the quarterback of Eastern Illinois University. The Cowboys brought him in to serve as the backup behind names like Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, and Drew Bledsoe.
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells really liked what he saw in Romo and gave the youngster a chance to start in 2006 and Romo never let go of that role. Romo helped lead the Cowboys to the playoffs that year and played in the Pro Bowl as a substitute. By the time injuries cost him his starting job in 2016 to rookie Dak Prescott, Romo had shattered most of the Dallas Cowboys passing records. He ranks fourth all-time in NFL history with a 97.1 passer rating and is in the top 30 in both passing yards (34,183) and touchdowns (248). The one area people criticize Romo is the lack of a Super Bowl title but he did just about everything asked of him over his tenure with the Cowboys.
What is next for Tony Romo?
Most people expected the Dallas Cowboys to release Tony Romo and the Houston Texans or Denver Broncos to sign him, giving him a chance to finally win a Super Bowl before retiring from the NFL. The Texans even traded their 2016 starting quarterback to free up money but now they are left high and dry as Romo chose to retire.
No one was sure why Jerry Jones was holding onto Romo instead of letting him find a new team and it looks like he was just waiting to let Tony figure out his future. That future will be as a color commentator for the NFL. Sources indicate that Romo chose to retire rather than continue to play due to the injuries suffered over his career. Instead, he has the choice to work for CBS, Fox, and NBC, and there are offers out from all three. Tony Romo is expected to make his decision later on Tuesday.
