After a challenging 2023, Tony Romo quietly faded from the spotlight in 2024. This shift wasn’t solely his fault; fans didn’t particularly tune him out, but attention shifted dramatically with Tom Brady entering the broadcast arena. Brady’s debut season on Fox demanded attention, seemingly sparing Romo from the usual criticism, despite CBS attracting more viewers.
That said, Romo still displayed flashes of brilliance. While his obsession with Josh Allen occasionally marred his AFC Divisional Round commentary, he managed to approach his final game of the season with a different perspective. He called out the Bills and Allen as needed. Although he had cringe-worthy moments, his performance was largely commendable.
Romo has a tendency to be a caricature of himself, particularly when he turns Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills games into quarterback lovefests. This has annoyed some NFL fans, with his enthusiastic exclamations of “Oh my gosh!” becoming grating.
That enthusiasm was evident during Sunday’s game as he gushed over Allen and Patrick Mahomes. However, in terms of analysis, he demonstrated he still possesses his sharp insight. While he might not predict plays with the accuracy he once did, aside from dubbing the Bills’ “Tush Push” as unstoppable and a few other miscalculations, his commentary was largely on target. Though he fell victim to the announcer’s jinx by mentioning Christian Benford’s concussion protocol status right before Benford exited the game, he highlighted and critiqued Kaiir Elam’s performance throughout.
Romo wasn’t unfairly targeting Elam; rather, he underscored the Chiefs’ exploitation of Elam’s weak links in the Bills’ defense. Although he isn’t the groundbreaking announcer he once was, Romo exhibited sharpness when it mattered. He adeptly encapsulated Josh Allen’s playmaking and dissected Andy Reid’s strategies with precision, never missing a beat in applauding Mahomes during pivotal moments of the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory.
It’s understandable that the Romo listening experience isn’t for everyone. He had his share of slip-ups, including praising Allen just before a risky 50-yard throw into double coverage and suggesting a delay of game on 4th-and-1, moments before Reid orchestrated an easy play. His dad joke about James Cook—“Unless you’re Cook, who is cooking”—left some cringing.
Despite his imperfections, which can be almost painful at times, there’s substance beneath the cartoonish delivery and excitable tones. Romo still excels in delivering insightful analysis when it matters most. Has he become notably less annoying? It’s hard to say—perhaps he benefitted from operating under Brady’s immense spotlight this season, allowing him a rare opportunity for a quieter performance, a luxury he hasn’t experienced since joining the booth.
Yet, there’s also evidence that Romo has consciously worked to tone it down. While still prone to exuberant commentary and frequent catchphrases, his analysis felt more grounded during recent games. Although he no longer predicts each play like a modern Nostradamus, he seems to choose his moments more wisely.
There’s less verbal filler and fewer “Oh my gosh!” exclamations, but they’re still present. Romo hasn’t abandoned his quirks entirely; he occasionally slips back into his enthusiastic style, especially when commentating on quarterbacks like Mahomes or Allen. However, compared to more polarizing periods in past seasons, a noticeable shift can be observed—whether this is a deliberate change or a mere coincidence. Perhaps it’s the Brady effect, or possibly Romo is finding his stride. Regardless, the 2024 version of Tony Romo appears somewhat more polished and less grating—though individual tolerance may vary.
