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Bill Parcells Shares How Sean Payton Scouted Tony Romo as a UDFA for the Cowboys

Every great quarterback has a story about how things could have turned out differently. Tony Romo’s might be the best example. The undrafted kid from Eastern Illinois became a Cowboys franchise quarterback, and Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells knows…

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 10:30 AM
Bill Parcells Shares How Sean Payton Scouted Tony Romo as a UDFA for the Cowboys
Key Things to Know
  • Bill Parcells credited Sean Payton for discovering and pushing to sign undrafted quarterback Tony Romo in 2003.
  • Sean Payton convinced Romo to take a $15,000 bonus with Dallas over a competing $25,000 offer.
  • The Cowboys initially held a fifth-round draft grade on Romo before signing him as a free agent.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells credited Sean Payton for scouting and advocating to sign Tony Romo as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Speaking on The 33rd Team's podcast, Parcells stated that Payton discovered Romo out of Eastern Illinois and convinced the coaching staff to sign him rather than throwing him into action prematurely.

Payton successfully convinced Romo to sign with Dallas for a $15,000 bonus despite a larger $25,000 offer elsewhere. Romo eventually took over the starting quarterback role in 2006, earning four Pro Bowl nods and retiring as the Cowboys' all-time passing yards and touchdowns leader.

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