John Parker Romo is an American professional football placekicker who has navigated an unconventional path through the NFL and XFL. Born on August 24, 1997, in Peachtree City, Georgia, Romo played college football at three universities before signing as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2022. His career has included stints with multiple NFL franchises and a standout season in the XFL with the San Antonio Brahmas, where he earned All-XFL honors in 2023. Romo of Mexican descent, currently seeks to establish himself as a reliable NFL placekicker after joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2025.
John Parker Romo Bio
John Parker Romo grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia, and attended McIntosh High School where he began developing his skills as a kicker. After high school, Romo embarked on a collegiate journey that would take him through three different football programs. His path included stops at the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Tulsa, and finally Virginia Tech, where he completed his college career from 2019 to 2021. This unusual three-school journey shaped Romo into a versatile kicker with experience handling both kickoff and field goal duties.
Early Life and Background
Romo attended McIntosh High School in his hometown of Peachtree City, Georgia. His performance as a high school kicker attracted attention from college programs, setting the foundation for his pursuit of professional football. Romo is of Mexican descent and grew up in the Atlanta area, where football is deeply embedded in the local culture.
Path to the XFL
Romo began his college career at the University of Central Arkansas in 2016. As a true freshman, he primarily served as a kickoff specialist for the Bears, recording 2,556 yards on 44 kickoffs with seven touchbacks in eight games. He did not make his only field goal attempt that season. Romo then transferred to the University of Tulsa, where he spent his sophomore year as a walk-on player. At Tulsa, he again handled mostly kickoff duties during the first half of the season before taking on more kicking responsibilities. He finished the Tulsa season with 3,602 yards on 59 kickoffs, 28 touchbacks, and made two of five field goal attempts across 12 games.
Romo transferred once more and played his final three collegiate seasons at Virginia Tech from 2019 to 2021. He served exclusively as a kickoff specialist during the 2019 and 2020 seasons before adding field goal duties in his final season. During his 2021 senior season with the Hokies, Romo converted 18 of 22 field goals and was perfect on all 34 extra point attempts, demonstrating his reliability in high-pressure situations.
John Parker Romo Career
New Orleans Saints (2022)
Following the 2022 NFL Draft, Romo signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2022. He was cut on August 15 but was re-signed four days later. This initial experience with the Saints provided Romo with his first exposure to NFL training camp and competition, though he did not make the final roster that season.
San Antonio Brahmas XFL Breakthrough (2023)
Romo signed with the San Antonio Brahmas for the 2023 XFL season, and this became his breakthrough performance at the professional level. He played all 10 games for the Brahmas and finished the season with 17 field goals made out of 19 attempts, contributing 51 total points. Romo was named to the 2023 All-XFL Team on May 8, 2023, recognizing his exceptional performance throughout the season. He also held the XFL record for the longest field goal at 57 yards during his time with the league, a record that was later broken. His success with the Brahmas established him as one of the top kickers in the XFL and earned him recognition as the XFL scoring leader for 2023.
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
Romo signed with the Minnesota Vikings on March 13, 2024. 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 and provided all of the team’s scoring in a 12-7 victory. This performance demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure at the NFL level. Romo was waived again on December 7, 2024.
New England Patriots (2024-2025)
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 competed for the starting kicking job but lost the competition to rookie Andres Borregales. He was released by the Patriots as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025.
Atlanta Falcons (2025-Present)
On September 9, 2025, Romo was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad amid struggles from incumbent kicker Younghoe Koo. He was promoted to the active roster on September 19, 2025, following Koo’s release. During Week 9 against his former team, the New England Patriots, Romo missed a crucial extra point in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game, and the Falcons narrowly lost on the road 24-23. He was waived on November 4 in favor of Zane Gonzalez.
Driving Style and Strengths
Romo has demonstrated reliability on field goals throughout his career, particularly evident in his 84.6% career field goal percentage in the NFL. His experience as both a kickoff specialist and field goal kicker in college and the XFL has given him versatility. His 2023 XFL season, where he led the league in scoring and made 17 of 19 field goals, showcased his accuracy and ability to handle pressure situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Romo’s most notable professional achievement remains his 2023 XFL season with the San Antonio Brahmas, where he earned All-XFL honors and led the league in scoring. His NFL debut with the Minnesota Vikings, where he made all four field goal attempts in a 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, marked his first significant NFL contribution. He holds the distinction of being the XFL all-time leader in field goals made.
John Parker Romo Career Wins
Throughout his professional career spanning the XFL and NFL, Romo has accumulated notable statistics and achievements that highlight his capabilities as a placekicker. His most productive season came in the XFL, while his NFL career has featured moments of strong performance interspersed with roster transitions.
XFL Highlights
Romo’s 2023 XFL season with the San Antonio Brahmas stands as his most successful professional campaign. He finished the season with 17 field goals made from 19 attempts and led the XFL in scoring with 51 total points. Romo was selected to the 2023 All-XFL Team and held the XFL record for the longest field goal at 57 yards before it was broken. His consistency and reliability as a kicker earned him recognition as one of the premier kickers in the league.
NFL Statistics
In his NFL career through 2025, Romo has made 22 field goals in 26 attempts for an 84.6% conversion rate. His longest field goal in the NFL is 55 yards. His most notable NFL performance came in his debut with the Minnesota Vikings against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made all four of his field goal attempts in a 12-7 victory. He has appeared in games with multiple franchises including the Saints, Lions, Bears, Vikings, Patriots, and Falcons.
John Parker Romo Family
Family Background
John Parker Romo was born in Peachtree City, Georgia, and is of Mexican descent. His multicultural background has been part of his identity throughout his life and football career. Romo attended McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia, where he began developing the kicking skills that would eventually lead him to professional football.
Personal Life
Romo maintains an active presence on social media under the handle romo_hka on Instagram. He pursued his football career through three different collegiate programs, demonstrating adaptability and determination in pursuing his professional aspirations. Details about his personal relationships or family life beyond his heritage are not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Romo as he sought to establish himself in the NFL. After beginning the season with the New England Patriots and losing the kicking competition to rookie Andres Borregales, Romo joined the Atlanta Falcons practice squad in September. His promotion to the active roster came amid struggles from incumbent kicker Younghoe Koo, presenting an opportunity for Romo to contribute at the NFL level. A critical moment came during Week 9 against his former team, the New England Patriots, when a missed extra point in the fourth quarter proved costly in a narrow 24-23 loss. Romo was waived in November as the Falcons adjusted their kicking situation by signing Zane Gonzalez. Throughout his career, Romo has demonstrated the ability to bounce back from setbacks, having been signed, waived, and re-signed multiple times across different organizations.