LONDON - While meeting with the local media Thursday, Cowboys owner, president, and general manager Jerry Jones gushed about how impressed he was with Tony Romo's mental preparation on and off the field. Jones told reporters that the Cowboys benefits from his cognitive abilities.
With Romo having the ability to make those around him better just by mental preparation, could the 34-year-old signal caller someday call plays from the sideline?
"He has aspirations at least certainly at this time, and he has said it to me, of eventually being an offensive coordinator in the NFL when he grows up," Jones said with a smile.
"Seriously, in the future he has that kind of interest. So he has great ideas, very sound ideas, and he backs them up with really logical work, film work, and he will use that to support his logic or to support his view."
Romo wouldn't be the first Cowboys offensive player to return to the club in a coaching capacity. The first notable example is Dan Reeves, who transitioned from playing for Tom Landry in 1971 to becoming a running backs coach. From 1977 to 1980, Reeves became the team's offensive coordinator.
Of course, Jason Garrett stands as the most successful example, going from Troy Aikman's backup from 1993-99 to offensive coordinator in 2007 after playing and coaching stints in New York, Tampa Bay, and Miami.
Another example on the staff is Wade Wilson, who also backed up Aikman from 1995-97, and then served as quarterbacks coach from 2000-02 before returning for a second tour of duty in 2007.
Even if Romo doesn't become a coach in the NFL, let alone for the Cowboys, Jones believes Romo's brains will save his body in coming seasons.
"I feel that as he moves along in his career, he will make any adjustments he has to make to help protect himself," said Jones.
"If he needs to get it out quicker, if he needs to do some things that he might have done years ago, I think he'll adjust to that. The good ones have done that as they've moved along in their career."
Jones plans on having Romo play at a high level "for a minimum" of five more seasons. Whenever Romo's playing career ends, would the three-time Pro Bowler consider coaching?
Upon hearing Jerry's coaching comments, Romo smirked: "I'm glad. I need some fatherly advice."
