Bill Romanowski
Encyclopedia
William Thomas "Bill" Romanowski (born April 2, 1966) is a former American football
player. He was born in Vernon
, Connecticut
. 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).
Romanowski 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
). 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. He was also known as one of the dirtiest players in the NFL.
fullback Larry Centers
in the head.
Two more incidents occurred during the 1997 season while he played for the Broncos: In the first, he was fined $20,000 after a helmet-to-helmet hit on then-Carolina Panthers
quarterback Kerry Collins
in a preseason game resulting 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. 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 attacked and 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 confronted Williams after a play, ripped off his helmet, and crushed his eye socket with a punch. Williams sued for damages of $3.4 million, arguing that Romanowski had been suffering from "roid rage" when he attacked him. This argument was later rejected by the judge on the grounds that Williams could not prove that Romanowski had actually used steroids on the same day as the attack. Williams was awarded $340,000. Williams was quoted as saying he and his lawyers "just wanted to prove what was right and wrong about football".
, later discovered to be the source of a designer steroid, indicate that he had used the anabolic steroid
"The Clear" and synthetic testosterone
ointment "The Cream
" provided by BALCO since 2003. In an October 16, 2005 appearance on 60 Minutes
, Romanowski admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone that he received from Victor Conte
, BALCO owner.
, The Benchwarmers
, Weiners, Bedtime Stories
and Get Smart
. Bill released an autobiography in 2005 titled Romo My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons. The book became a New York Times best selling book in 2005. It chronicles his childhood, college, and his playing times in the NFL. He is also featured on the cover of the Midway Games title Blitz: The League
and adds his voice as Bruno Battaglia, a linebacker in the game who wears his 53. He also appears in NCAA Football Series indirectly as LB #53 for the 1984 Boston College Eagles. 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 jersey number, 53. Romanowski is active in the internet community and media through his personal blog, Facebook page and regular appearances on The Rick and Bubba Show and The Young Guns on WWZN in Boston.
In 2008, Romanowski was the defensive coordinator for the Piedmont High School (California) Highlanders Freshman Football team, where his son plays.
In January 2009, Romanowski threw his name into the search for Mike Shanahan
's replacement as the head coach of the Denver Broncos
. Bill reportedly sent a 30-page PowerPoint presentation to team owner Pat Bowlen
outlining his credentials and the new ideas he would bring to the team. The job was ultimately given to Josh McDaniels
.
In February 2010, Romanowski was called in by Mike Shanahan to present to the Washington Redskins. Romanowski was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame on June 23, 2011, in Troy, Michigan.
as one of the prison guards and voiced linebacker Bruno Battaglia in Blitz: The League
; he appears on the cover with Lawrence Taylor
. He also was one of the baseball coaches in The Benchwarmers movie. On February 4, 2010, Romanowski appeared for an interview on The Jim Rome Show
.
He also had an appearance in the Spike television series Blue Mountain State. In the second-season premiere episode, Romanowski plays coach Marty Daniels' ex-brother-in-law and team consultant on dirty playing tactics.
Romanowski also regularly appears as a guest on Ferrall Radio (Sirius channel 101, 8 PM-12 AM M-F) and ESPN Radio's The Herd with Colin Cowherd
.
Romanowski posed with his wife Julie for the 2000 Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit edition.
He also appeared in an episode of Comedy Central's Tosh.0.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He was born in Vernon
Vernon, Connecticut
Vernon is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 29,179 at the 2010 census.Vernon was incorporated in October, 1808, from Bolton. Vernon contains the former city of Rockville, incorporated in January, 1889. The town of Vernon and city of Rockville consolidated as a...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. A linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, he graduated from Rockville High School
Rockville High School (Connecticut)
Rockville High School is a public secondary school located in Vernon, Connecticut. The school also serves as a vocational agriculture school for the region. Passing grade at RHS is a 70%. RHS has 1,136 students in grades 9-12. The school's mottos include "Nihil Nisi Optimum" , and "We Are the...
in 1984, Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
in 1988 (with academic honors and Scanlan Award
Scanlan Award
The Thomas F. Scanlan Memorial Trophy is an award given by the Boston College Varsity Club to the senior football player outstanding in scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.- Winners :*1947: Vic Palladino, guard*1948: Tom Brennan, running back...
Recipient), and then went on to a 16-year career in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, playing for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
(1988–1993), Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1994–1995), Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1996–2001), and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2002–2003).
Romanowski played 243 consecutive games, an NFL record among linebackers, won 4 Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Championships, and is the only linebacker to start 5 Super Bowl Games (Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
, Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV was an American football game played on January 28, 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1989 regular season...
, Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1997 regular season...
, Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
and Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
). 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
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection twice, in 1996 and 1998, both during his tenure with the Denver Broncos. He was also known as one of the dirtiest players in the NFL.
Altercations
Romanowski has been involved in numerous altercations with both teammates and opponents. In 1995, while with the Eagles, he was ejected from a game — and subsequently fined $4,500 — for kicking Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
fullback Larry Centers
Larry Centers
Larry Eugene Centers is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for 14 seasons, mostly for his first team, the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals...
in the head.
Two more incidents occurred during the 1997 season while he played for the Broncos: In the first, he was fined $20,000 after a helmet-to-helmet hit on then-Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
quarterback Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
in a preseason game resulting 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
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
in response to Stokes' taunting. 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
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
tight end Tony Gonzalez, and was also fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a football at Bryan Cox
Bryan Cox
Bryan Keith Cox is a former American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the NFL from 1991 through 2002. He was a member of the New England Patriots club that won Super Bowl XXXVI...
of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the ball hitting him in the crotch area
Groin attack
A groin attack is an attempt to cause pain to the groin area of one's opponent. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the penis and testicles of males, as well as the highly innervated vulva of females. A sufficiently powerful blow may...
.
In 2003, Romanowski attacked and injured one of his teammates, Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams (American football)
Marcus Williams is a former backup tight end for the Oakland Raiders who was forced to retire in 2003 after teammate Bill Romanowski broke his eye socket with a punch.-Lawsuit:...
, during a scrimmage. Williams, a backup tight end for the Oakland Raiders, was forced to retire after Romanowski confronted Williams after a play, ripped off his helmet, and crushed his eye socket with a punch. Williams sued for damages of $3.4 million, arguing that Romanowski had been suffering from "roid rage" when he attacked him. This argument was later rejected by the judge on the grounds that Williams could not prove that Romanowski had actually used steroids on the same day as the attack. Williams was awarded $340,000. Williams was quoted as saying he and his lawyers "just wanted to prove what was right and wrong about football".
Involvement in the BALCO Scandal
Off the field, he and his wife were investigated for prescription drug fraud, though the charges were later dropped. Records seized by the government belonging to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operativeBay Area Laboratory Co-operative
The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative was an American company led by founder and owner Victor Conte, a former bass player for the soul band Tower of Power. In 2003, journalists Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada investigated the company's role in a drug sports scandal later referred to as the...
, later discovered to be the source of a designer steroid, indicate that he had used the anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
"The Clear" and synthetic testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
ointment "The Cream
The cream
"The cream" is a testosterone-based ointment that is used in conjunction with anabolic steroids such as tetrahydrogestrinone in order to mask doping in professional athletes....
" provided by BALCO since 2003. In an October 16, 2005 appearance on 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, Romanowski admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone that he received from Victor Conte
Victor Conte
Victor Conte is a former musician with Tower of Power and founder and president of BALCO, a sports nutrition center in California. He served time in prison in 2005 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering....
, BALCO owner.
Post-NFL career
Romanowski appeared in movies such as The Longest YardThe Longest Yard (2005 film)
The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film remake of the 1974 film of the same name. Adam Sandler plays the protagonist, Paul Crewe, a disgraced former professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, who is coerced to form a team from the prison inmates to play...
, The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers is a 2006 American sports-comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Rob Schneider, Jon Heder, and David Spade. It is produced by Revolution Studios and Happy Madison Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures.-Plot:...
, Weiners, Bedtime Stories
Bedtime Stories
A bedtime story is a popular form of storytelling.Bedtime story or Bedtime stories may also refer to:*Bedtime Story , a 1964 comedy film*Bedtime Stories , a 2008 family fantasy comedy starring Adam Sandler...
and Get Smart
Get Smart (film)
Get Smart is a 2008 American spy-fi comedy film based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's 1960s spy parody television series of the same name. The film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99...
. Bill released an autobiography in 2005 titled Romo My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons. The book became a New York Times best selling book in 2005. It chronicles his childhood, college, and his playing times in the NFL. He is also featured on the cover of the Midway Games title Blitz: The League
Blitz: The League
Blitz: The League is an American football game by Midway as an unlicensed extension of their NFL Blitz series. Released after the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with Electronic Arts, it was released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Lawrence Taylor, who provides voice acting...
and adds his voice as Bruno Battaglia, a linebacker in the game who wears his 53. He also appears in NCAA Football Series indirectly as LB #53 for the 1984 Boston College Eagles. 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 jersey number, 53. Romanowski is active in the internet community and media through his personal blog, Facebook page and regular appearances on The Rick and Bubba Show and The Young Guns on WWZN in Boston.
In 2008, Romanowski was the defensive coordinator for the Piedmont High School (California) Highlanders Freshman Football team, where his son plays.
In January 2009, Romanowski threw his name into the search for Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
's replacement as the head coach of the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Bill reportedly sent a 30-page PowerPoint presentation to team owner Pat Bowlen
Pat Bowlen
Patrick Dennis Bowlen is the Majority Owner, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Broncos. The Bowlen Family, including his two brothers and sister, purchased the team from Edgar Kaiser in 1984 and saved the team from possible bankruptcy.-Biography:Pat's father, Paul D...
outlining his credentials and the new ideas he would bring to the team. The job was ultimately given to Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels is the former head coach of the Denver Broncos and currently the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams. He previously served as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots...
.
In February 2010, Romanowski was called in by Mike Shanahan to present to the Washington Redskins. Romanowski was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame on June 23, 2011, in Troy, Michigan.
In media
Romanowski starred in the remake of The Longest YardThe Longest Yard (2005 film)
The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film remake of the 1974 film of the same name. Adam Sandler plays the protagonist, Paul Crewe, a disgraced former professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, who is coerced to form a team from the prison inmates to play...
as one of the prison guards and voiced linebacker Bruno Battaglia in Blitz: The League
Blitz: The League
Blitz: The League is an American football game by Midway as an unlicensed extension of their NFL Blitz series. Released after the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with Electronic Arts, it was released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Lawrence Taylor, who provides voice acting...
; he appears on the cover with Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
. He also was one of the baseball coaches in The Benchwarmers movie. On February 4, 2010, Romanowski appeared for an interview on The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
.
He also had an appearance in the Spike television series Blue Mountain State. In the second-season premiere episode, Romanowski plays coach Marty Daniels' ex-brother-in-law and team consultant on dirty playing tactics.
Romanowski also regularly appears as a guest on Ferrall Radio (Sirius channel 101, 8 PM-12 AM M-F) and ESPN Radio's The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a sports talk radio show hosted by Colin Cowherd and broadcast on ESPN Radio from Bristol, Connecticut. The show is heard Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. ET until 1 p.m. ET on most ESPN Radio stations and is simulcasted on ESPNews...
.
Romanowski posed with his wife Julie for the 2000 Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
Swimsuit edition.
He also appeared in an episode of Comedy Central's Tosh.0.
External links
- 60 Minutes Interview Sept. 17, 2006, from interview Oct. 16, 2005
- MuscleSport Radio interview with Joe Pietaro, 5/19/09
- "Recovery 101" article written by Bill Romanowski in MuscleSport Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1 - Fall 2009
- http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/dirtiest/players.html