Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker John Parker Romo (96) kicks a field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
When the Minnesota Vikings sent John Parker Romo packing before the season starter, it was a straightforward decision. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah grabbed Will Reichard from Alabama during the draft, and the draft capital always meant that he would make the team. That didn’t sit right with Parker Romo.
The free agent was disappointed, thinking he would at least be given a chance to show his abilities during the preseason. He got no game tape from the Vikings, and there was no ability to prove that he could hang in the league. Although he did voice displeasure, he stopped short of burning a bridge.
When the Vikings needed a kicker to replace an injured Reichard, they went back to Parker Romo. In the weeks that he has filled in, the 27-year-old has been nearly perfect. He has just a single missed field goal and only messed up on extra point. To say he would be the best kicker and preferred option for multiple teams across the league is putting it lightly.
That’s now the reality for Parker Romo. The former Virginia Tech kicker didn’t get a chance with the Detroit Lions last year, and he wasn’t supposed to get one from Minnesota this year. Instead, he stayed the course and capitalized on his opportunity.
Ultimately, the Vikings will go back to Reichard. That means Parker Romo can take multiple weeks of game tape and some huge kicks to float his resume elsewhere. There are multiple landing spots that could make sense, and taking over for one of the best to ever do it in Baltimore might be a short-term fix there, too.
It’s not always the most straightforward way for opportunities to present themselves. Park Romo stayed ready, though. Even when the Vikings invited a small competition to bring him back, the snubbed leg emerged victorious.
Seeing Minnesota go from one good kicker to another this season has been a blast. Regardless of where he winds up, seeing more success coming his way would be fun.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.