Kickers don’t get a lot of press usually, quarterbacks and wide receivers are who the spotlight rests on. But in the Minnesota Vikings‘ 12-7 win over the Jaguars, John Parker Romo was indispensable. He was the only scorer for the Vikings, with his 4 field goals, and his emotional press conference was moving.

If you’re a longtime NFL fan, the name Romo probably means something to you. Sure, Tony Romo is now best known for his color commentary with CBS, but for the longest time he was the Dallas Cowboys‘ starting quarterback, in the days before Dak Prescott. And he did a damn fine job in the position. Do the two have anything to do with each other?

Is John Parker Romo related to Tony Romo?

There’s no point dragging it out, so here’s a one-word answer: No. The two have nothing to do with each other, and Tony Romo is the only son of Ramiro Romo. Where Tony Romo grew up a navy brat and moved around all over, John Parker Romo grew up in Georgia. That’s not even accounting for the 17 year age gap too.

John Parker Romo didn’t have the usual high school to college to NFL pipeline. He went undrafted in 2022, then the Saints signed, cut, then re-signed him all in the same year, though he never saw any game-time. He had to go to the XFL with the San Antonio Brahmas to get any in 2023. Romo made 17 of 19 field goal attempts with them and even broke the XFL record with a 59-yard field goal. Tony Romo went undrafted too, but the Cowboys snapped him up at first opportunity, and they kept him 13 years.

Right now, though, there’s only one active player in the league called Romo. Tony Romo’s moved on to better things with CBS. He had perhaps his biggest job earlier this year, when he did commentary for the Super Bowl. With John Parker Romo’s inspiring story and his earnestness, maybe he’s got a shot at going into broadcasting himself, in a few years time. The world’s his oyster, if he can keep impressing the way he does.

Who are the Vikings placekicker’s parents?

We have relatively little information about John Parker Romo’s parents, but we know he was born to Brenda and James Romo. They both still live in Peachtree, Georgia, where John was born back in 1997. Brenda got her education from the Principia College, graduating in 1985. She currently works at Delta Airlines as a flight attendant, and she’s been with them for 36 years.

We don’t know for sure how Brenda and James met, but given James worked for Delta too, for 35 years till he retired in 2020, it’s not inconceivable that that’s where they first came across each other. James Romo got his education at the University of Texas at Arlington before he joined with Delta in 1984. The last position he worked in was as the general manager for specialty sales, a position he held for a decade.

Watching their son struggle to find his place must have been heartbreaking. Now that John Parker Romo’s made his name, we’re sure there’s no one gladder in the world.