Tony Romo ranked among the NFL’s elite at his position for much of his career as the Dallas Cowboys starter. However, his Cowboys tenure has left a complicated legacy, with former Pittsburgh Steelers stars James “Deebo” Harrison and Joe Haden remaining unconvinced that his individual accomplishments deserve a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.
Why James Harrison and Joe Haden Aren’t Sold on Tony Romo
Romo finished his NFL career with 34,183 passing yards while throwing 248 touchdowns against 117 interceptions. He had a 78-49 career record as a starter for the Cowboys in the regular season, but he never won a Super Bowl or even reached the game’s biggest stage.
In the “Deebo & Joe” podcast, two-time Super Bowl champion Harrison asked co-host and three-time Pro Bowler Haden whether Romo’s Hall of Fame case would have been stronger had he won a Super Bowl with Dallas.
“Maybe, probably not,” Haden said.
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Romo’s peak years came during one of the NFL’s most talent-rich quarterback eras, as he competed alongside Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Rodgers, and Drew Brees. He was definitely regarded as one of the league’s most efficient passers and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2014.
However, Romo never earned a First-Team All-Pro selection, which was a key reason Harrison rejected his Hall of Fame case, even if he had won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.
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“He was good, but he wasn’t great,” Harrison said. “That man didn’t even make one All-Pro. Like, the All-Pro is hard to get into. You know that. First or second. He wasn’t that guy that you was like, ‘Oh man, we gotta worry about this. He’s gonna sling that thing to whoever he can get it to, it don’t matter.'”
Romo had 30 game-winning drives in his Cowboys career, but he was also remembered for costly interceptions in crucial moments. His critics also point to Romo’s playoff résumé, as he failed to lead Dallas to the NFC Championship Game in 2007 and 2014, despite those seasons being viewed as featuring the Cowboys’ strongest rosters during his tenure. His 2-4 postseason record also continues to weigh heavily in Hall of Fame debates.
However, both Harrison and Haden agreed that Romo deserves a place in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.
Meanwhile, Romo made headlines for a different reason on Thursday, as he was reportedly arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
