Remember when Tony Romo was Dallas’ promising young quarterback and he was dating Jessica Simpson, one of the most popular women in Hollywood? It’s hard to believe that was almost 10 years ago. The power couple dated from 2007-09, shortly after Simpson and singer Nick Lachey divorced.
Today, Fox Sports 1’s Skip Bayless—who is unabashedly one of sports media’s biggest Romo supporters—said the quarterback’s romance with Simpson hurt his career.
“It was just tumultuous,” Bayless said on his new show Undisputed, which he hosts opposite former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe. “It was always one thing after another off the field. He had to pay too much attention off the field and he was not dedicating himself to the process of playing NFL quarterback.”
Romo and Simpson’s drama-ridden relationship was constantly in the press, and he ended it after a year and a half. Shortly after the two began dating, Romo began struggling on the field, and some friends blamed Simpson.
"I think he knew that it was wrong," Bayless said.
They also took a vacation in Mexico shortly before Romo’s Cowboys played the Giants in the playoffs—a decision that many naturally questioned. Why would you go to Mexico right before the playoffs?
Romo got married to Candice Crawford in 2011, and they have two children together. Simpson, meanwhile, is married to former 49ers tight end Eric Johnson, and they also have two kids.
Romo is expected to return from his compression fracture soon, and Jerry Jones insists he’ll be Dallas’ starting quarterback despite Dak Prescott’s impressive play through five games. With the rookie under center, the Cowboys are 4-1.
We’ll see how long that decision lasts. Romo is 36 and injury-prone. Besides, if he comes back and the Cowboys struggle, who’s to blame Jason Garrett for wanting to get the rookie back in the game?
