Report: NFL execs ‘all but guarantee’ Tony Romo is not done playing football

Tony Romo has officially begun the next chapter of his life, as the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback announced on Tuesday he is joining the CBS broadcast team. For now, Romo is retired from football. That could change in the future, and many NFL executives are apparently convinced it will.

Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman spoke with several front office executives who said they believe Romo will return to the field at some point. One AFC general manager went as far as to say there is a “100 percent chance” Romo plays next season.

But, curiously, no one in the NFL believes this is it for Romo. Several front office executives literally laughed at the notion that Romo is retired, all but guaranteeing that he would be back.

“I’d say there’s a 100 percent chance he makes a return somewhere in the NFL next season,” one AFC general manager said.

The reason Romo isn’t on another team now, said these executives, is because owner Jerry Jones was asking too much in return for a trade. One claimed Jones even wanted a first-round pick for Romo. No one was going to do that. Ever.

A report from earlier on Tuesday claimed Romo would consider returning to the Cowboys if they needed him, likely in the event of a Dak Prescott injury. However, the 36-year-old has all but confirmed that he is replacing Phil Simms as part of CBS’s top NFL broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz. It seems unlikely that CBS would offer Romo that kind of role if the network wasn’t certain he is done playing for good.

For what it’s worth, another source told Freeman that Romo’s retirement from football will be permanent.

“Tony is done. It’s over,” the source said. “I can’t say it’s definite, but I don’t believe we will ever see Tony on a football field again unless he’s doing a broadcast.”

Romo wants to spend more time with his family, and he also has concerns about the numerous back surgeries he has undergone. He never won a Super Bowl, so there’s always a chance ruthless shots like this one from Robert Flores could help inspire Romo to come back and try to change that.

We wouldn’t be on it.