Tony Romo certainly isn’t the first TV announcer or reporter to do it, but he referred to the Washington “Redskins” Sunday.
The funny thing about it is this — Romo didn’t even work the Washington Commanders game. Instead, the CBS Sports analyst called the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears matchup. The conversation turned to Bears defensive end Montez Sweat, who was recently named to the Pro Bowl.
Sweat began the season in Washington before being traded to the Bears in late October. Romo pointed out he had a chance to make NFL history.
“[Montez Sweat] has a chance to lead two franchises in sacks this year, the Redskins and the Bears,” Romo said.
“Crazy … it’s never happened in the history of the league,” noted Romo’s broadcast partner, Jim Nantz.
“Commanders,” Romo quickly chimed in, correcting himself.
"[Montez Sweat] has a chance to lead two franchises in sacks this year, the Redskins and the Bears." – Tony Romo
"Crazy… 2nd-and-6… it's never happened in the history of the league." – Jim Nantz
"Commanders." – Romo pic.twitter.com/oilfZT5FwZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 7, 2024
It happens. It’s not unusual to hear fans still accidentally refer to the team as the Redskins, just like others mistakenly refer to the Oakland Raiders or the San Diego Chargers, or on the baseball side, the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Devil Rays or Florida Marlins.
Slightly compounding the matter is the franchise changed its name because “Redskins” was seen by many an insensitive. (It would have been even weirder if Romo had called them the “Washington Football Team,” the franchise name in 2020-21 before it became the Commanders.)
Fans generally cut Romo a break for his slip.
Tbh I think a lot of people still do this lmfao https://t.co/2yVo7WHaHU
— ab (@alec_bradley) January 7, 2024
Did #TonyRomo just say “Redskins” how may freaking years later?
— 🇺🇸 Carmen Carsino 🇮🇹 #GenX (@CCarsino) January 7, 2024
Who doesn’t still say that, or Oakland Raiders or San Diego Chargers
— mo brockman (@mobrockman) January 7, 2024
Bill King, who was an all time great Bay Area sports announcer, slipped up and said Oakland several times after the Raiders moved to LA. (he wouldn’t have done well with the Las Vegas Raiders either I suspect) https://t.co/oIblqr9ykD
— Dilan Esper (@dilanesper) January 7, 2024
I still call them redskins.
— Randy Browning (@RudyBrowning04) January 7, 2024
Tony Romo said redskins and I didn’t realize till he corrected himself LOL
— rare (@keepitrare) January 7, 2024
This article previously incorrectly referred to Tony Romo as a Fox Sports analyst. We apologize for this error.
