Last night’s Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers game was an instant classic. The thrilling overtime game that gave Patrick Mahomes his third Super Bowl puts him in legendary status. When the lights were the brightest, and the moment was the biggest, he showed up and showed out. However, many wished Tony Romo had not.
Sometimes the role of a commentator is to explain a situation to educate the viewers and provide value. And sometimes it’s about just simply sitting back and letting the moment unfold in front of the world. NFL fans wished that Romo had done the latter.
NFL World Rips Tony Romo for Interrupting Call
Super Bowl 58 was filled with intense drama as two very good football teams exchanged blows and struggled to score all night.
As the game came to its climax in overtime with Mahomes and the Chiefs finding a way by hitting Mecole Hardman in the right side of the end zone to win, viewers wished that the moment could’ve been taken in, rather than listening to Romo talk over it.
I never understood the Tony Romo hate but now I get it.
As a play by play announcer, this is a pet peeve.
Tony, a legendary moment just happened. Either let Jim continue to talk or let the nat sound and the visuals take over! Stop talking! pic.twitter.com/VHOzSQQXE2
— Lane Gillespie (@LaneGillPxP) February 12, 2024
Romo’s job is to analyze the game and describe it from a place of experience. In this moment he’s doing what he has done countless times before. But in the moment those had wished he would just let the moment marinate, understand what was taking place, and take a step back from it all.
That's why Jim stopped talking……..it wasn't an open invitation for Tony to start his mundane commentary on the play. There would have been plenty of time for that
— DepSec999 (@Depsec999) February 12, 2024
“That’s why Jim stopped talking……..it wasn’t an open invitation for Tony to start his mundane commentary on the play. There would have been plenty of time for that.”
MORE: Mahomes and the Chiefs Are Already Looking at a Three-Peat
This X user pointed out the veteran presence of Romo’s teammate, Jim Nantz, and how he knew at that moment it might have been better to just let it unfold, rather than inserting yourself into it.
He felt HAD he to tell us the details of that play. Tony should have been quiet at that point.
— Derek Keith (@derekkeith777) February 12, 2024
“He felt HAD he to tell us the details of that play. Tony should have been quiet at that point.”
To this X user’s point, this is Romo’s job. To explain to the viewers how a play unfolded from his point of view and experience.
In most cases, he would be right in that scenario. It’s something he’s done countless times before in big games. But the difference is, in the biggest game, in the biggest moment, the fans wanted the game to tell the story.
Just like anything else in life, you learn from mistakes. And in a moment of reflection, one would think Romo would choose to do differently if given another chance.
While he felt like he was doing his job, sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all.
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