Bill Romanowski

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Bill Romanowski
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Position(s): Linebacker	Jersey #(s): 53
Born: April 2, 1966 (1966-04-02) (age 42) Vernon, Connecticut
Career Information
Year(s): 1988–2003
NFL Draft: 1988 / Round: 3 / Pick: 80
College: Boston College
Professional Teams
San Francisco 49ers (1988-1993) Philadelphia Eagles (1994-1995) Denver Broncos (1996-2001) Oakland Raiders (2002-2003)
Career Stats
Tackles	1,116
Sacks	39.5
Interceptions	18
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
2x Pro Bowl selection (1996, 1998) 2x All-Pro selection (1996)(1998) 1985 Cotton Bowl MVP

William Thomas Romanowski (born April 2, 1966 in Vernon, Connecticut) is a former American football player. He is commonly known as "Romo". A linebacker, he graduated from Rockville High School in 1984, Boston College in 1988 (with academic honors and Scanlan Award Recipient), and then went on to a 16-year career in the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers (1988-1993), Philadelphia Eagles (1994-1995), Denver Broncos (1996-2001), and Oakland Raiders (2002-2003). He played 243 consecutive games, an NFL record among linebackers, won 4 Super Bowl Championships, and is the only linebacker to start 5 Super Bowl Games (Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIV, Super Bowl XXXII, Super Bowl XXXIII and Super Bowl XXXVII). In his rookie season, Romanowski made a big impact for the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII, recording a third quarter interception that set up a San Francisco field goal. He is one of only three players in NFL history to win back to back Super Bowls with two different organizations (San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos). During his 16 year career, Romanowski compiled 1,105 tackles, 39.5 sacks, 18 forced fumbles, and 18 interceptions, which he returned for a net total of 98 yards and 1 career touchdown. Romanowski was a Pro Bowl selection twice, in 1996 and 1998, both during his tenure with the Denver Broncos.

[edit] Altercations

Romanowski has been involved in numerous altercations with both teammates and opponents. In 1989, while with the 49ers, he had one with offensive tackle Harris Barton after Barton had taken exception to a hit Romanowski had made on wide receiver Jerry Rice during a practice session. In 1995, while with the Eagles, he was ejected from a game — and subsequently fined $4,500 — for kicking Arizona Cardinals running back Larry Centers in the head. Three more incidents occurred during the 1997 season while he played for the Broncos: In the first, he was fined $20,000 after his hit on then-Carolina Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins in a preseason game resulted in Collins sustaining a broken jaw; in the second, Romanowski spat in the face of 49ers wide receiver J.J. Stokes in a regular-season game played in December on a Monday night in response to Stokes' taunting; and in the third — in the AFC Championship game — Romanowski taunted Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart following an interception Stewart had thrown in the third quarter of the game, won by Denver. Two years later, while still with the Broncos, he was fined a total of $42,500 for three illegal hits plus a punch thrown at Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, and was also fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a football at Bryan Cox of the New York Jets, the ball hitting him in the crotch area.

In 2003, Romanowski injured one of his teammates, Marcus Williams, during a scrimmage. Williams, a backup tight end for the Oakland Raiders, was forced to retire after Romanowski crushed his eye socket with a punch. Williams took him to court seeking $3.4 million. Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice, who had played with Romanowski, said that he had "crossed the line" in an admittedly violent sport. Williams was awarded $340,000. Though this was only a tenth of what he sought, Williams said that it was not really about the money but that he and his attorneys "just wanted to prove what was right and wrong about football".

[edit] Post-NFL career

Romanowski was featured in movies such as "The Longest Yard" and "The Benchwarmers". His next movie appearances include "Weiners" and "Get Smart." Bill released an auto-biography in 2005 titled "Romo." It chronicles his childhood, college, and his playing times in the ultra-competitive NFL. He's also featured in Midway Games Blitz: The League. In 2006, he founded Nutrition 53, a nutritional supplement company dedicated to optimal life performance. The company's name is derived from Romanowski's football career number, 53. Romanowski writes his own blog at www.billromanowskiblog.com.

[edit] Personal

This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

• Family: married to wife Julie, with two children
• Enjoys surfing, skiing, and cycling
• Musical Interests: The Beatles, Elton John, John Denver.
• One of his jobs as a teen was a farmer (milking cows)
• A firm believer in Acupuncture.

[edit] References in popular culture

• He is mentioned in the song Listen to The DJ by Z-Trip feat Soup of Jurassic 5 in the line "From the minute that they announce me, I'm quick to the mike and say peace to Romanowski".

Actually that shout out is for San Francisco Artist,Dj and Music Producer Romanowski aka Roman Weingartner.

[edit] External links

• 60 Minutes Interview Sept. 17, 2006, from interview Oct. 16, 2005
• Bill Romanowski at the Internet Movie Database