John Parker Romo
John Parker Romo is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football for the [Central Arkansas Central Arkansas Bears football|Bears football|Central Arkansas Bears], Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and Virginia Tech Hokies. Romo signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has also been a member of the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL. He was selected to the All-XFL team following the XFL season and is the all-time leader of field goals in the XFL.
College career
Central Arkansas
As a true freshman at the University of Central Arkansas, Romo served mostly as a kickoff specialist for the Bears. He finished the season with 2,556 yards on 44 kickoffs, with seven touchbacks in eight games, averaging 58.1 yards per kickoff. He did not make his only field goal attempt.Tulsa
Romo spent his sophomore season at the University of Tulsa after transferring from Central Arkansas between semesters. He was a walk-on player for Tulsa, where he again handled mostly kickoff duties for the first half of the season. Romo handled most kicking duties during the second half of the season.Romo finished the season with 3,602 yards on 59 kickoffs, with 28 touchbacks in 12 games played, averaging 61.1 yards per kickoff. He made two of his five field goals and had one blocked attempt. Romo fared better with extra points and finished the season with 17 extra points made on 18 attempts.
Virginia Tech
Romo transferred again and played his last three collegiate season at Virginia Tech. He was exclusively a kickoff specialist for the Hokies in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Romo added kicking duties in his final season. He finished the 2021 season with 18 field goals made from 22 attempts. Romo was a perfect 34 for 34 on extra points.Professional career
New Orleans Saints
Following the 2022 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints signed Romo as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech on May 16, 2022. He was cut on August 15, and was re-signed four days later.San Antonio Brahmas
Romo was signed by the San Antonio Brahmas for the 2023 XFL season. He played all 10 of the Brahmas games and finished the season with 17 field goals made out of 19 attempted for 51 total points. Romo was named to the 2023 All-XFL team on May 8. He held the XFL record for the longest field goal, before Donny Hageman broke his 57-yard field goal with a 59 yarder against the Houston Roughnecks. Romo was released from his contract on May 15, 2023.Detroit Lions
On May 15, 2023, Romo signed with the Detroit Lions following a successful tryout. He was waived on August 29.Chicago Bears
On August 31, 2023, Romo was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad. He was released on October 10.Minnesota Vikings
On March 13, 2024, Romo signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was waived on July 29, but was re-signed on November 5 as an injury replacement kicker for Will Reichard. Five days later, Romo made his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he converted all four of his field goal attempts, providing all scoring in a 12–7 victory. Romo was waived again on December 7.New England Patriots
On December 10, 2024, Romo signed to the New England Patriots' practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.During the 2025 preseason, Romo lost the kicking competition to rookie Andrés Borregales and was released by the Patriots as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025.