Fans were begging Tony Romo to stick to his day job as a football analyst after his impromptu rendition of “The Lion King” on Thanksgiving Day. The CBS broadcaster’s attempt at singing the iconic song left viewers cringing and pleading for him to keep the commentary strictly football-related.
Romo was in the broadcast booth alongside his longtime partner Jim Nantz for the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Chicago Bears. During the second quarter of the game, which ultimately ended in a narrow 23-20 victory for the Lions, the “Cub Cam” at Ford Field caught the attention of the broadcasters.
As the camera panned to shots of parents lifting their children into the air, reminiscent of a scene from “The Lion King,” Nantz provided some playful commentary. “Amazing shots of today’s game are provided by Nationwide as babies are hoisted in the air to the sounds of ‘The Lion King,’ the ‘Circle of Life.’ Beautiful moment here,” Nantz said. He then transitioned smoothly back to the game, adding, “As we see Jared Goff…”
It was at that moment that Tony Romo decided to take things a step further. The 44-year-old former Dallas Cowboys quarterback broke into a soft, but unmistakably off-key rendition of the opening lines of Elton John and Hans Zimmer’s “Circle of Life.”
His version was far from accurate, with Romo not only being off tune but also struggling with the original lyrics, which include Zulu lines from the indigenous South African language.
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The reaction from viewers was swift, and it wasn’t positive. Social media was quickly flooded with comments, as fans expressed their dismay at Romo’s singing effort. “Tony Romo just tried to sing the Lion King song. It was not pretty,” user @allbuisnesspat wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another user, @MeLlamoAdrrian, added, “Ayo!!! Somebody tell Tony Romo to never do that again. Who said singing that Lion King song was okay??” The sentiment was shared by many, who found the attempt cringeworthy and out of place for the broadcast.
For some viewers, the brief rendition left a lasting impression—albeit not in a good way. “Tony Romo singing ‘The Circle of Life’ is going to haunt my dreams,” wrote @jordanzirm, capturing the uncomfortable nature of the moment.
Another fan described it as an all-time Thanksgiving blunder. “Jim Nantz saying that kids being held up like lions from ‘The Lion King’ is a beautiful moment and sounding like he was tearing up, only for Tony Romo to try and sing ‘Circle of Life’ might be a top least favorite NFL moment of all time,” user @jake_shulz6 posted. “Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.”
While Tony Romo’s commentary is often lauded for his insightful analysis and his uncanny ability to predict plays before they happen, his foray into singing did not earn him the same accolades.
The impromptu rendition, however, added an unexpected moment of levity to a holiday broadcast that otherwise focused on the Lions’ impressive 11-1 start to the season.
For Detroit, it was indeed a happy Thanksgiving. The Lions pulled out a win that showcased their resilience, though it wasn’t without some questionable decisions by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, who once again came under fire for his late-game management.
As for Romo, perhaps this Thanksgiving moment will serve as a reminder to keep his talents focused on calling the game—and leave the singing to someone else.
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