Tony Romo is best known for his long career with the Dallas Cowboys and his successful second chapter as a CBS Sports football analyst. But before he became a familiar face on NFL broadcasts, Romo was a kid growing up in Burlington, Wisconsin, in a hardworking family.
His parents, Joan Jakubowski and Ramiro Romo Jr., played an important role in his upbringing. Their lives were far removed from the bright lights of professional football. Joan worked as a grocery store clerk, while Ramiro served in the Navy before building a career in construction.
Romo has spoken about both of his parents and the lessons he learned from watching them work hard for their family. Their influence was especially important during his early years, when he was developing into a talented football player while still living a relatively ordinary small-town life.
Who Is Tony Romo’s Mother?
Tony Romo’s mother is Joan Jakubowski.
Joan has German and Polish heritage and worked as a grocery store clerk in Burlington, Wisconsin, where Romo grew up. She raised Tony alongside his two older sisters, Jossalyn and Danielle.
Romo has shared some funny memories about his relationship with his mother. In an interview with Graham Bensinger, he was asked about Joan’s comment that if she had Tony first, she might not have had any other children.
Romo responded with a laugh and suggested that his personality and constant energy may have had something to do with that.
That playful comment gives a small glimpse into what he was like as a child. Even before football became his profession, Romo appears to have been an energetic and active kid.
Joan Was There to Help Tony With His Career
Romo has also described his mother as something of a “bookkeeper” for him.
As his football career developed, there were plenty of things to keep track of, from school responsibilities to sports-related matters. Joan helped him manage some of those details and provided support while he pursued his goals.
For a young athlete, having a parent willing to handle some of the practical responsibilities can make a major difference.
Romo has credited his family for being there during the early stages of his journey. Long before he was playing in front of NFL crowds, he was simply a young quarterback trying to find his path.
Joan’s support became part of that foundation.
Who Is Tony Romo’s Father?
Tony Romo’s father is Ramiro Romo Jr.
Ramiro had a very different kind of working life from the glamorous world his son eventually entered.
He served in the United States Navy before becoming a carpenter and construction worker. His career developed over time, and he eventually worked his way up to positions including superintendent and project manager.
Romo has spoken about watching his father leave for work and return home after a long day.
Those memories stayed with him.
In discussing his father, Tony has emphasized his work ethic and described him as an old Navy man who believed strongly in hard work.
For Romo, those lessons were not necessarily taught through long speeches. They were visible in the way his father lived his life.
Ramiro Worked Hard to Support His Family
The Romo family experienced periods when money was tight.
Tony has recalled a time when his father was earning around $500 a month. Growing up with an understanding of those financial challenges gave Romo a different perspective on success.
His father was not handed an easy career path. He worked his way forward through construction and gradually took on greater responsibilities.
That example appears to have influenced Tony’s own attitude toward work.
Romo went undrafted after college in 2003, meaning there was no guarantee that he would ever become an NFL starter. His eventual success therefore required plenty of persistence.
The experience of watching his father build a career from the ground up likely gave him an appreciation for staying patient and continuing to work.
Tony Romo Grew Up in Burlington, Wisconsin
Although Romo was born in San Diego, California, he grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin.
The small Wisconsin community became home for the future Cowboys quarterback.
Burlington gave Romo a relatively ordinary childhood centered around family, school and sports. He attended Burlington High School, where football became an increasingly important part of his life.
His rise from a small-town athlete to an NFL star was not an overnight story.
Romo eventually attended Eastern Illinois University, where his football career really began to attract wider attention.
At Eastern Illinois, he developed into a standout quarterback and set several school records. He also won the Walter Payton Award, helping put his name on the radar of NFL scouts.
Tony Romo Went Undrafted in 2003
One of the most interesting parts of Romo’s football journey is that he was not selected in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Despite his college success, every NFL team passed on him during the draft.
The Dallas Cowboys eventually signed him as an undrafted free agent.
That meant Romo had to fight for his opportunity rather than entering the league with the attention normally given to a high draft pick.
His family background made that journey especially meaningful.
He had watched his father work his way upward, and now he was facing his own uncertain professional future.
Romo eventually earned his opportunity with Dallas and became the team’s starting quarterback in 2006.
His Parents Watched His NFL Career Grow
Romo went on to spend his entire 14-year playing career with the Cowboys, becoming one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in franchise history.
He earned four Pro Bowl selections and established several Dallas passing records during his career.
For Joan and Ramiro, watching their son reach that level of professional football must have been a remarkable change from the early days when he was simply playing sports in Burlington.
The road was not always easy.
Romo dealt with several significant injuries during the later years of his career, including problems that required back surgeries. Eventually, at age 36, he decided that his body could no longer handle the demands of professional football.
He retired as a player in 2017.
Tony Romo Found a Second Career in Broadcasting
Retirement did not take Romo away from football.
Instead, he moved into broadcasting and joined CBS Sports as an NFL analyst.
He quickly became known for his ability to explain plays and anticipate what might happen on the field. His broadcasting career became almost as recognizable as his playing career.
Romo eventually formed a popular broadcast partnership with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, becoming one of the best-known voices associated with NFL coverage.
His success in broadcasting gave him another major professional chapter after football.
The work ethic he saw from his father continued to be relevant in this stage of his life. Romo had to learn a completely different skill set and develop his own style as a broadcaster.
His Parents’ Influence Goes Beyond Football
When Tony Romo talks about his childhood, his parents’ influence is often connected to the values he learned at home.
Joan’s support helped him manage the practical side of growing up as a young athlete, while Ramiro’s career showed him what persistence and hard work looked like.
Neither parent came from a world of professional sports or entertainment.
Instead, they worked regular jobs and built their lives around their family.
That background is an important part of understanding Romo’s story.
He did not grow up as a highly recruited superstar with an obvious path to the NFL. He was a Wisconsin kid who worked his way through high school and college, went undrafted and eventually earned his chance with the Cowboys.
Joan and Ramiro Remain an Important Part of His Story
Tony Romo’s career has taken him from a small Wisconsin town to the NFL and then into the broadcast booth.
Along the way, the lessons from his parents have remained part of his story.
Joan Jakubowski worked hard while raising her children and supported Tony during the early stages of his athletic career. Ramiro Romo Jr. spent years working in construction after his Navy service and showed his son the value of putting in the effort every day.
Their lives were very different from Tony’s eventual career in professional football, but that may be exactly why their influence mattered so much.
Before the Cowboys, the Pro Bowls and the CBS broadcast booth, there was a family in Burlington, Wisconsin.
For Tony Romo, Joan and Ramiro were the people who helped give him the foundation to chase his ambitions. His journey from an undrafted free agent to an NFL quarterback and later a prominent broadcaster is a story of opportunity, persistence and family support.