Retirement of Tony Romo after 13 seasons in the NFL
Due to lack of opportunities with another team, Tony Romo retired from the NFL after thirteen seasons, all of them with the Dallas Cowboys, to become a sports commentator.
A career of contrasts
Loved and hated by fans equally, Tony Romo's career was full of ups and downs. Despite finishing as the all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and passer rating for the Cowboys, Romo fell short in crucial moments and couldn't lead the team to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys' last appearance in the Super Bowl was in 1996 when they won against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From undrafted to starting quarterback
After not being selected in the NFL Draft, Tony Romo earned a spot on the team as a backup quarterback in 2005, two years after joining the league. From the bench, he learned from Drew Bledsoe - the former quarterback of the New England Patriots - to lead the offense of the Cowboys.
The missed opportunity
In 2006, the Cowboys made it to the playoffs with a record of nine wins and seven losses, giving Romo his first trip to the Pro Bowl. However, in the wildcard round against the Seattle Seahawks, the Cowboys were trailing by one point with one minute and nineteen seconds left in the game. They only needed a field goal to advance, but Romo, who was holding the ball, couldn't handle it and attempted to run for a touchdown or first down. He was tackled by Jordan Babineaux, sealing the game for the Seahawks.
A disappointing end to a great season
In 2007, the Cowboys had a dream season with thirteen wins and only three losses, securing the top seed in the NFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Romo finished the season with 4,211 passing yards and another Pro Bowl appearance. However, their playoff run was cut short as they lost to the New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl XLII. The game ended with an interception thrown by Romo when the Cowboys were looking to make a crucial play.
More disappointments
The following year didn't bring any improvement for Romo and the Cowboys. In the last week of the regular season, they faced the Philadelphia Eagles for the final playoff spot, but suffered a devastating 44-6 loss. Once again, Romo was criticized for his lack of effectiveness in crucial moments.
A promising season cut short
In 2009, the season looked more promising for Romo. He had his best season in terms of passing yards, and the Cowboys had the chance for revenge against the Eagles. They defeated them in the last game of the regular season and again in the wildcard round, ending a 12-year playoff drought. However, their hopes were quickly crushed with a 34-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Romo had three turnovers in the game, including an interception.
Injuries start taking a toll
Starting from 2010, injuries began to impact Romo's career. He fractured his left collarbone in a game against the New York Giants and missed the entire season.
Another playoff disappointment
In 2014, Romo and the Cowboys suffered another painful playoff loss, this time against the Green Bay Packers. A pass from Romo to Dez Bryant was ruled incomplete, eliminating the Cowboys' chance of winning the game.
More injuries
In 2015, Romo experienced two injuries. The first one happened in the second week when he re-fractured his left collarbone against the Philadelphia Eagles. He returned in the eleventh week but re-fractured his collarbone in the next game, ending his season and requiring another surgery.
A change of fortune
In 2016, Romo's story took a complete turn. An injury in the preseason opened the door for rookie Dak Prescott, who revitalized the Cowboys' offense. Alongside rookie Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys became the dominant team in the NFC.
Remaining on the sideline
Despite his recovery midway through the season, Romo remained on the bench until the final week when he started in the loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. The game had no impact on the Cowboys' playoff position as they had already secured their spot.