By Darin How does an undrafted quarterback from a small FCS school in Illinois become the all-time passing leader for “America’s Team”? Long before he was a household name in the broadcast booth or under the bright lights of AT&T Stadium, Tony Romo was a record-shattering force for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. With a signature playmaking style and an uncanny ability to extend plays, Romo dominated the Ohio Valley Conference, earning the Walter Payton Award and proving that elite talent isn’t always found at the Power Five level. This is the story of the “undrafted” icon who rewrote the record books in both the college and professional ranks.
Tony Romo, quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys before playing in the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 10, 2008. Courtesy of MC2 Elisia V. Gonzales, USN
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Football Bio
April 21, 1980- San Diego, California – Tony Romo, the highly efficient signal caller of the Eastern Illinois teams of 1999 to 2002, was born.
Tony, according to the NFF, won the 2002 Walter Payton Award as the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS); therefore goes down as one of the greatest players in Eastern Illinois history.
Romo was a First Team All-American in 2002 after setting conference and school records with 34 single-season and career 85 touchdown passes. Tony Romo received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
It was hard to believe but Romo went undrafted in 2003, but he would put together a tremendous NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-16. The four-time Pro Bowl selection holds Cowboy records for career passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Conclusion
Tony Romo’s career is the ultimate testament to the “diamond in the rough” scout’s dream. By conquering the FCS and leading Eastern Illinois to three straight playoff appearances, he set a standard of efficiency that few have matched. His transition to the NFL—going from an undrafted free agent to the leader of the Dallas Cowboys—remains one of the most improbable success stories in sports history. Whether it was his 2021 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame or his laundry list of Cowboys franchise records, Romo proved that accuracy, improvisation, and grit can carry a player from the small town of Charleston, Illinois, to the pinnacle of football immortality.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2021.
- Walter Payton Award Winner: 2002 (Top player in NCAA Division I-AA/FCS).
- 3× OVC Player of the Year: 2000, 2001, 2002 (The first player in conference history to win three times).
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 2002.
- Eastern Illinois Record Holder: Career touchdown passes (85) and single-season touchdowns (34).
- 4× NFL Pro Bowl Selection: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014.
- Dallas Cowboys All-Time Leader: Career passing yards (34,183) and passing touchdowns (248).
- NFL Season Passer Rating Leader: 2014 (113.2).
- OVC Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2009.
- Retired Jersey: His #17 was retired by Eastern Illinois in 2009.
