Two years ago, Tony Romo was hailed as the next great NFL color commentator, seemingly able to predict plays in real-time and provide interesting analysis of the game. Since then, however, he seems to have devolved into a human catchphrase and exclamation machine who can’t even be counted on to be ready to speak when asked a question. Critics are out in full force wondering what happened and his performance on Sunday during the AFC Championship Game didn’t do much to quell their concerns.
Tony Romo announces a game like the kid who just ran into the house to tell their mom about something bad that just happened outside.
— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) January 30, 2023
Tony Romo went from "insightful, predictive announcer" to "Bob Saget narrating America's Home Videos" in two years
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 30, 2023
Can we send Tony Romo to mars
— Kofie.bsky.social (@Kofie) January 30, 2023
There was one moment in particular that seemed to encapsulate NFL viewers’ frustrations with Romo. During a play in which Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes got a pass off as he was being tackled by a Cincinnati Bengals defender, Romo struggled his way through a metaphor, saying “the wizard is still…wizardry.” What?
We're still not sure what to make of Tony Romo's "the wizard is still…wizardry." pic.twitter.com/8lbiHWmB2L
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 30, 2023
Was he trying to say “the wizard is still wizarding” but got tripped up in his own mind before he could say it? In a way, it sums up Romo’s schtick perfectly in that he was more consumed with coming up with a wacky phrase to utter rather than trying to provide the audience with any kind of meaningful context, and just made the whole thing more awkward because of it.
Tony Romo: "The wizard is still wizardry."
$180 million
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) January 30, 2023
"The Wizard is still… Wizardry." – Tony Romo, backing himself into a corner.
— Garion Thorne (@GarionThorne) January 30, 2023
“The Wizard is still wizardry.”
Tony Romo, 1/29/23
— Pat Tomasulo (@pattomasulo) January 30, 2023
The NFL season is over for CBS and it stands to reason they’ll spend the offseason wondering what they’ve gotten themselves into with Romo and his 10-year, $180 million contract.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.