Tony Romo Ethnicity: Mexican, Polish and German Heritage Explained

Quick answer: Tony Romo is of Mexican descent on his father's side — his paternal grandfather emigrated from Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico — and of Polish and German heritage on his mother's side. He is a second-generation Mexican-American from his father's line.

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What Is Tony Romo's Ethnicity?

Tony Romo's ethnicity is a blend of Mexican heritage on his father's side and Polish-German heritage on his mother's side. He is a second-generation Mexican-American from his father, Ramiro Romo Jr., whose own father — Tony's paternal grandfather — emigrated from Múzquiz, Coahuila in northern Mexico. His mother, Joan Jakubowski, is of Polish and German descent, a common ancestry in Wisconsin, where the family settled.

Romo grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin, and was raised within both his Latino heritage and a Midwestern American upbringing. He has spoken publicly about his Mexican roots and the importance of family in his career.

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Father's Side: Mexican Roots

Ramiro Romo Jr., Tony's father, is a second-generation Mexican-American who worked as a carpenter and construction worker in Burlington, Wisconsin. Tony was born in San Diego while his father was stationed at the U.S. Naval Base there. Ramiro Jr. is the son of Ramiro Riojas y Romo Sr., who was born in Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico, and emigrated to the United States as a teenager, eventually settling in Wisconsin. Tony's paternal grandmother, Felicita Rios y Castellano, was born in Texas to Texas-born parents of Mexican descent, with roots tracing back to Mexico.

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Mother's Side: Polish and German Heritage

Joan Jakubowski, Tony's mother, is of Polish and German descent — two of the most common European ancestries in Wisconsin, where large immigrant communities settled in the 19th and 20th centuries. She worked as a grocery store clerk in Burlington. Specific details about Joan's parents and grandparents have not been publicly documented, but her Polish family name (Jakubowski) confirms her Central European background.

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Grandparents: A Complete Picture

Paternal Grandfather: Ramiro Riojas y Romo Sr. — born in Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico; emigrated to the United States as a teenager.

Paternal Grandmother: Felicita Rios y Castellano — born in Texas to parents of Mexican descent.

Maternal Grandfather: Unknown — Polish/German ancestry, Wisconsin.

Maternal Grandmother: Unknown — Polish/German ancestry, Wisconsin.

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Spouse's Ethnicity & Children's Heritage

Tony Romo married Candice Crawford, a journalist and Miss Missouri USA 2008, on May 28, 2011. Candice is of White American heritage — she is the sister of actor Chace Crawford. Together they have three sons: Hawkins Crawford Romo (born April 2012), Rivers Romo (born August 2014), and Jones McCoy Romo (born December 2015). The Romo boys carry their father's Mexican-Polish-German ancestry blended with their mother's European-American roots.

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Tony Romo in His Own Words

"My heritage is always close. My family has been with me every step of the way — they are my foundation." — Tony Romo, ESPN, 2010

ESPN profiled Romo's close relationship with his extended Mexican-American family in a feature published during his Cowboys career, detailing how his father's family roots in Mexico have always been central to who he is. His relatives have attended many of his games over the years, representing the tight family bonds that characterise his background.

▶ Watch on YouTube →

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Is Tony Romo Alive?

Yes, Tony Romo is alive. Born April 21, 1980, he is 45 years old as of 2026. He retired from professional football in 2017 and has since become one of the most acclaimed NFL analysts on CBS Sports.

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

Interviews & Direct Quotes

• ESPN — "Tony Romo's heritage always close by" (2010): https://www.espn.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/7004118/tony-romo-family-him-every-step-way

Genealogy & Ethnicity Research

• EthniCelebs — Tony Romo: https://ethnicelebs.com/tony-romo
• EssentiallySports — "What Is Tony Romo's Ethnicity?": https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-what-is-tony-romos-ethnicity-nationality-all-about-the-cbs-announcers-roots-and-heritage/

Family Background

• Wikipedia — Tony Romo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Romo
• Sportskeeda — "Tony