Tony Romo, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS broadcaster, made headlines again for the wrong reasons during Monday afternoon’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders. Romo, who was commentating during the game, made a mistake he had already made earlier in the season regarding Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship.
Kelce, Chiefs’ tight end, caught a screen pass in the second quarter, and the CBS cameras panned to Swift in the suite, who was cheering on her boyfriend. Romo exclaimed, “Wow! You saw the juice. He caught that; he took off. Looking like a young Kelce … And his wife loves it, I mean girlfriend.” Romo’s co-broadcaster, Jim Nantz, then reminded him, “You’ve been down that road before.”
Indeed, Romo had made the same error earlier this month during Chiefs’ game against the Buffalo Bills, where he referred to Swift as Kelce’s wife. Romo quickly corrected himself and apologized for the mistake. Nantz, however, lightheartedly replied, “Not yet,” suggesting that maybe Romo knows something they don’t.
This is not the first time Romo has come under fire for on-air blunders. However, the mistake regarding Kelce and Swift’s relationship has caught the attention of pop culture enthusiasts, as their relationship status has been widely discussed and even made into a meme. Kelce and Swift’s relationship has been confirmed as friends, and they were even spotted together backstage at one of Swift’s concerts.
Romo’s mistake has also prompted discussions about the possible effects of his commentary on the players themselves. Kelce is a vital part of the Chiefs’ offense, and any distraction, no matter how small, could have adverse effects. Still, the Chiefs managed to win the game against the Raiders, 35-31, even with Romo’s mistake on-air.
While Romo’s commentary skills are top-notch, and his insights into the game are often spot-on, it is essential to remember the impact that his words can have, especially in today’s social media-driven world. Romo’s error regarding Kelce and Swift’s relationship, while harmless, highlights the power and reach of the media and how a simple mistake can quickly catch the public’s attention.