Tony Romo has never been shy about having a little fun behind the mic, and now he’s finally opened up about one of his most talked-about on-air moments - the time he twice referred to Taylor Swift as Travis Kelce’s wife during Chiefs broadcasts back in 2023.
The first slip came during Kansas City’s home game against the Buffalo Bills on December 10 of that year. While the cameras panned to Swift in the suite, Romo casually dropped the “wife” title before quickly correcting himself to “girlfriend.”
Two weeks later, on Christmas Day during the Chiefs-Raiders matchup, he did it again: “As you see Kelce’s wife, Taylor Swift, in the audience.” Cue the internet frenzy.
At the time, the comment sparked plenty of speculation - was Romo just confused, or did he know something the rest of us didn’t? Fast forward to now, and Romo is setting the record straight. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up, the former Cowboys quarterback revealed that the second “wife” comment wasn’t a mistake at all - it was intentional.
“I did, kind of, play with the fans,” Romo said. “I think I was like, ‘And there’s…’ I think I said, ‘his wife.’
I did that on purpose and people were like, ‘Do you know something?’ I was like, ‘Nah, I just wanted to make you guys think for a second (and) just mess with you a little bit.’”
Mission accomplished. Whether fans were laughing, speculating, or raising eyebrows, Romo had everyone talking - and that’s part of what he’s always brought to the booth: personality, spontaneity, and a willingness to lean into the moment.
Of course, Romo’s time in the CBS broadcast booth hasn’t been without its bumps. He just wrapped up his ninth season with the network, calling the AFC Championship Game alongside longtime partner Jim Nantz.
In the early years, Romo was praised for his uncanny ability to predict plays and his infectious energy. But over the past few seasons, some fans have grown more critical - pointing to occasional flubs and a perceived drop in sharpness.
Case in point: during the AFC Divisional Round between the Bills and Broncos two weeks ago, Romo mistakenly referred to Josh Allen as Patrick Mahomes. And in the Wild Card Round the week before, he caught heat for stating the obvious - suggesting the Jaguars could beat the Bills, despite Jacksonville having home-field advantage and the better record.
Still, Romo isn’t going anywhere. Back in 2020, he inked a 10-year extension with CBS Sports, locking in his place as one of the network’s top voices for the foreseeable future. That means more Romo, more Nantz, and yes - probably more viral moments.
Love him or roll your eyes at him, Romo remains one of the most recognizable voices in NFL broadcasting. And if his “wife” comments about Taylor Swift are any indication, he’s not afraid to stir the pot just enough to keep fans - and social media - buzzing.