During Saturday’s playoff clash between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, Tony Romo found himself in the spotlight - and not for the reasons broadcasters hope for. In a moment that had fans doing a double take, Romo mistakenly referred to Josh Allen as Patrick Mahomes on the live CBS broadcast.
Now, let’s be clear: everyone in the booth is going to slip up once in a while. Live TV is fast, chaotic, and full of moving parts.
But this one? It stood out - and not just because Allen and Mahomes are two of the most recognizable quarterbacks in the league.
Mahomes, of course, has been sidelined with a season-ending ACL injury, and his Chiefs missed the postseason for the first time since 2015. So hearing his name dropped in the middle of a Bills-Broncos playoff game definitely turned heads.
The flub came during a high-stakes moment in the Wild Card Round, where Allen was doing what he does best - putting the Bills on his back. That’s what made the mix-up all the more jarring.
Allen and Mahomes have had their share of epic battles, but this wasn’t one of them. This was Allen’s show, and Romo’s slip took some of the shine off the moment.
It’s not the first time Romo has caught heat this postseason. Last week, during the Bills’ win over the Jaguars, fans were already voicing frustration with his performance in the booth.
The criticism has been building over the past few seasons. Once hailed as a breath of fresh air for his ability to predict plays and bring a quarterback’s insight to the broadcast, Romo’s commentary has drawn more scrutiny lately - with some questioning whether he’s still bringing the same sharpness that made him a fan favorite early in his broadcasting career.
Despite the chatter, though, Romo’s job security doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy. According to reporting from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, CBS isn’t looking to make any changes. Romo and longtime partner Jim Nantz are still set to call next week’s AFC Championship Game.
As for the Super Bowl? That’ll be in NBC’s hands this year - they’ve got the broadcast rights for Super Bowl 60.
So while the Mahomes mix-up may live on in social media memes and highlight reels, Romo isn’t going anywhere just yet. Mistakes happen, even to the best in the booth. But with the AFC title game on deck, all eyes - and ears - will be on Romo to see if he can tighten things up when it matters most.