Current:Home > StocksTony Romo's singing, meandering Super Bowl broadcast left us wanting ... less -BrightFuture Investments
Tony Romo's singing, meandering Super Bowl broadcast left us wanting ... less
View
Date:2025-04-13 16:45:13
Amid a season filled with criticism, Tony Romo had one last chance − on the biggest stage of all − to go out on top.
But like a snap on a crucial field-goal attempt, Romo fumbled with the game on the line.
The Kansas City Chiefs scored a thrilling victory in Super Bowl 58, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. But after CBS play-by-play man Jim Nantz crisply called the game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Mecole Hardman, Romo picked up the call like that football in the 2006 NFC wild card game and took it on a long, meandering road to who-knows-where.
Less than three seconds after Nantz gave one of his signature closing lines − "Jackpot, Kansas City!" − Romo failed to give the historic moment time to breathe, immediately jumping into an analysis of the playcall, the midseason trade for Hardman and Mahomes' place in history.
Over that same 29-second span, the broadcast showed images of Taylor Swift celebrating in her suite, dejected 49ers players and coaches, Hardman reveling in the moment and Chiefs coach Andy Reid receiving congratulations. The full spectrum of emotions that are usually the focus in the Super Bowl's immediate aftermath.
SUPER BOWL CENTRAL: Latest Super Bowl 58 news, stats, odds, matchups and more.
It was perhaps a fitting conclusion to an up-and-down broadcast for Romo and Nantz.
Tony Romo sings!
The game started slowly with a scoreless first quarter, so Romo tried to add a little fun to the mix in the second by singing along with Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" as CBS faded to commercial.
But Romo didn't stop there. Though he showed restraint by not referring to Taylor Swift − jokingly or otherwise − as the "wife" of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Romo did break into song again over a camera shot of Swift with Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas" playing in the background.
Romo's key observations
As for the game itself, Romo correctly identified the fact that Kelce was on the sidelines on a crucial fumble by Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. But he seemed to downplay the sideline confrontation between Kelce and coach Andy Reid after the play.
Early in the fourth quarter, with San Francisco facing a fourth-and-3 at the Chiefs' 15-yard line, Romo insisted the Niners should go for it rather than attempt a game-tying field goal.
He turned out to be right as the Niners converted on fourth down and scored the touchdown that put them up 16-13 just two plays later.
Romo and Nantz also seemed to get in each other's way a couple times down the stretch. Once in trying to figure out if the Chiefs had time for one more play in the final seconds of regulation to either go for a touchdown to win or kick a field goal to tie. (Harrison Butker ended up converting a 29-yard field goal with 3 seconds left.)
The other instance was Romo's rather lengthy and convoluted explanation of the NFL playoff overtime rules and what happens if the quarter runs out at the end of the first overtime period. That problem was solved when Mahomes hit Hardman for the winning score with 3 seconds remaining in overtime.
Romo calls 'partial streaker' on the field
Of course, the Super Bowl broadcast wasn't all football analysis (and singing). There was a moment of levity during the third quarter when two people ran out onto the field.
"We got people on the field," Romo alerted the audience, which Nantz confirmed.
"There's a partial streaker. Shirt off," Romo added. "But we can't talk about it."
In the end, the quality of the game itself generally overshadows the quality of the announcing − especially when a network can throw all of its resources into the broadcast.
Super Bowl 58 was filled with dramatic moments, especially in the second half and overtime. The camera work and direction were outstanding. Nantz was his usual understated self. And Romo had a decent game overall, but him talking over the game-winning TD celebration − one of the cardinal sins of broadcasting − is what TV viewers will remember most.
veryGood! (2486)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Man freed from prison after 34 years after judge vacates conviction in 1990 murder
- Jason Kelce's off-the-field impact, 'unbelievable legacy' detailed by Eagles trainer
- An $8 credit card late fee cap sounds good now, but it may hurt you later. Here's how.
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Another inmate found dead at troubled Wisconsin prison
- Woman accuses former 'SYTYCD' judge Nigel Lythgoe of 2018 sexual assault in new lawsuit
- Mark Cuban vows to back Joe Biden over Donald Trump, even if Biden 'was being given last rites'
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Krispy Kreme is giving out free donuts on Super Tuesday
Ranking
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- How to cancel Apple subscriptions: An easy guide for iPhone, iPad and Macs
- Krispy Kreme is giving out free donuts on Super Tuesday
- The Urban Aunt Home Aesthetic Combines Drama & Charm, Here’s How to Get the Vibe
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Facebook and Instagram restored after users report widespread outages
- Cookie Monster complaint about shrinkflation sparks response from White House
- Dartmouth men’s basketball team votes to unionize, though steps remain before forming labor union
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
Iowa Democrats to release results of 2024 presidential caucuses tonight
The Texas Panhandle fires have burned nearly as much land in 1 week as thousands did in 4 years in the state
Wicked Tuna's Charlie Griffin and Dog Leila Dead After Boating Accident
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Super Tuesday exit polls and analysis for the 2024 primaries
John Mulaney's Ex-Wife Anna Marie Tendler to Detail Endless Source of My Heartbreak in New Memoir
Haley’s exit from the GOP race pushes off — again — the day Americans could elect a woman president