Tony Romo Responds to Criticism After Playoff Game

Tony Romo received significant backlash for his commentary during the recent wild-card game between the Bills and Jaguars.

He addressed the reactions, albeit somewhat indirectly, during an appearance on SiriusXM with Adam Shine on Wednesday. Romo mentioned he was dealing with a mystery illness while covering the playoff game.

“There were a few of us who weren’t feeling well, but we pushed through. Missing a playoff game isn’t an option; it’s just too much fun,” Romo shared.

From the outset, Romo faced heavy criticism from fans, especially those active on social media. Among them was Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who was particularly vocal.

During the introduction alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, Romo compared the Jaguars to the Panthers, who had lost to the Rams the day before. He called the Bills both “underdogs” and “overachievers.”

“Who’s going to win? Honestly, I have no idea!” Romo admitted on-air. “I know a lot about football, but this one is tough. Jacksonville is a solid team, much like Carolina yesterday. They earned some respect, even if they didn’t come out on top.”

He continued, “Jacksonville is in that spot too. They could pull off an upset, or even if it’s not an upset, the Bills are often viewed as underdogs, yet they seem to be the favorites today.”

In response to Shine’s query about whether he’d take the criticism to heart, Romo had a thoughtful answer.

Ultimately, Romo emphasized the enjoyment aspect of his role. “When you’re on air for a long time, trying to give your best constantly, there are ups and downs. That’s just part of the gig. We aim to create an enjoyable experience for viewers, to give them insight while having fun,” he reflected.

“For me, that’s the essence of sports. It’s all about enjoyment.”

Romo is set to join Nantz again for the Bills and Broncos divisional round matchup on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.