Tony Romo on online critics, Travis Kelce’s Brazil snub and cautious optimism for the Cowboys

Tony Romo said he has developed a thick skin since leaving the Dallas Cowboys and becoming one of the NFL’s most visible broadcasters, but he still treats criticism as a tool to improve his work.

In an interview with the Daily Mail conducted to promote Skechers’ Hands Free Slip‑ins, the 45‑year‑old former quarterback discussed his eight years at CBS, his approach to broadcast analysis, reaction to social‑media backlash and his outlook for the Cowboys as the 2025 season opens.

Romo said he arrived at television determined to "do things a little different," trusting instincts that quickly made him a popular analyst for viewers who applauded his knack for predicting plays before they happened. Alongside veteran Jim Nantz, Romo has become a fixture at CBS and has served as part of the network’s announcing team for three Super Bowls.

The clarity of his reads has drawn praise and criticism. Romo acknowledged some viewers tired of what they see as play tipping and cited negative reaction — including to his call of the Chiefs’ walk‑off touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII — as part of the job. "Everyone’s got an opinion, really," he said. "You don't spend 13 seasons leading 'America's Team' without developing some thick skin."

Romo said he treats feedback as performance data. "It's like, you're in the public eye and you're doing something that many people watch, and your job is to take that and use it as a tool to improve and just keep trying to improve and be at your best," he told the Daily Mail. He described the early years in broadcasting as "trial and error" and said fans have overwhelmingly praised his work in recent seasons.

As a former quarterback who spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys and made four Pro Bowls, Romo occupies a dual role: analyst and former insider. That position informs his views on league changes, including expanded international play, holiday scheduling and potential future season length.

The NFL is staging a record seven international games in 2025, with matchups scheduled for Australia and Brazil. When asked about proposals such as an 18‑game regular season, Romo said he generally "lives in the moment" but left the door open to change if financial incentives and player‑safety data support it. He pointed to historical shifts — from 14 to 16 to 17 games — as the league has adjusted over time.

Romo defended the league’s decisions that can place added travel and condensed schedules on teams, saying the changes are driven by business imperatives and ultimately raise player pay. He noted the television‑driven scheduling that produced stretches in which teams such as the Chiefs, Ravens, Texans and Steelers played three games in 11 days last winter. "The players sometimes don't always recognize that that's what makes the salary cap go up. That's why they get paid more money," he said.

Romo addressed veteran reactions to international games with reference to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who publicly complained about the heat before reversing course and praising Sao Paulo after Kansas City’s loss to the Chargers in the opener. "Travis is a wily vet and so for him, every vet in the National Football League would like to be at home and just do the normal routine," Romo said. He added that younger players often must adapt to a tougher learning curve in the NFL while veterans understand the grind.

Turning to his former team, Romo said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the Cowboys’ prospects in 2025. His assessment came before Dallas opened the season with a narrow loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Romo cited the acquisition of wide receiver George Pickens, what he called a "great draft" and upgrades to the offensive and defensive lines as reasons for measured optimism.

Dallas enters the season with Brian Schottenheimer as the new head coach and quarterback Dak Prescott — the league's highest‑paid player — expected to carry heavy expectations after a season in which he managed eight games because of a hamstring injury. Romo reiterated confidence in Prescott’s leadership and competitiveness. "He's always been a great leader. That's one of his special qualities," Romo said. "If I was the head coach running a team, it would be: this guy has to have an intestinal fortitude, and a mental approach that's above the fray."

Romo acknowledged the NFC East is deeper than recent years, pointing to the Eagles as a dominant club, the Washington Commanders’ progress with Jayden Daniels, and the New York Giants’ potential after they used a draft pick on quarterback Jaxson Dart. He also noted the Cowboys will be without Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Green Bay Packers, making the path to a first title since 1995 more complicated.

"There is excitement there. It's tempered a little bit because of the other teams, but I do think they have an opportunity to have some big‑time success," Romo said. He added that teams become great by rising to tougher competition and that Dallas had taken steps to improve on both sides of the ball.

Romo’s transition from player to broadcaster has been closely watched. He said his primary objective remains to help viewers enjoy the game and to respect the stakes for players and organizations. "My job is to literally make people at home enjoy it and get the most out of the experience," he said.

The interview underscored Romo’s belief that adaptation — whether to fan reaction, new broadcast approaches or evolving league schedules — is central to success, both for analysts and teams. As the season unfolds, Romo said he plans to keep refining his work while watching how rule changes, international expansion and roster moves shape the NFL landscape.