Editing Bill Romanowski

{{Short description|American football player (born 1966)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image       = Bill Romanowski.jpg
| caption     = Romanowski in 2006
| number      = 53
| position    = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1966|4|2}}
| birth_place = [[Vernon, Connecticut]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 4
| weight_lb   = 245
| high_school = [[Rockville High School (Connecticut)|Rockville]] (Vernon)
| college     = [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]] (1984–1987)
| draftyear   = 1988
| draftround  = 3
| draftpick   = 80
| pastteams   =
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1988|1993}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1994|1995}})
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|1996|2001}})
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|2002|2003}})
| highlights  =
* 4× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXIII|XXIII]], [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]], [[Super Bowl XXXII|XXXII]], [[Super Bowl XXXIII|XXXIII]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1997 Pro Bowl|1996]], [[1999 Pro Bowl|1998]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1988|1988]])
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1987 College Football All-America Team|1987]])
* 3× First-team All-[[Big East Conference|East]] ([[1985 All-East football team|1985]], [[1986 All-East football team|1986]], [[1987 All-East football team|1987]])
| statlabel1  = [[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
| statvalue1  = 1,118
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
| statvalue2  = 39.5
| statlabel3  = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue3  = 16
| statlabel4  = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4  = 18
| statlabel5  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue5  = 18
| statlabel6  = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue6  = 1
| pfr         = RomaBi00 
}}

'''William Thomas Romanowski''' (born April 2, 1966) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] for 16 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Nicknamed "'''Romo'''" and "'''RomoCop'''",<ref>{{Cite web|title=Romocop Wants to Coach in NFL|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/romocop-wants-to-coach-in-nfl/1858535/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=NBC Bay Area|date=February 9, 2010|language=en-US|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231157/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/romocop-wants-to-coach-in-nfl/1858535/|url-status=live}}</ref> he spent the majority of his career with the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and [[Denver Broncos]]. He won four [[Super Bowl]] titles, two each with the 49ers and Broncos, and twice received [[Pro Bowl]] honors during his Broncos tenure.

Romanowski played [[college football]] for the [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College Eagles]] and was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the [[1988 NFL draft]]. He played six seasons each in San Francisco and Denver.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1988 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1988/draft.htm |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330141814/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1988/draft.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Romanowski was also a member of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and [[Oakland Raiders]] for two seasons each. He led a controversial career due to often engaging in unsportsmanlike behavior, which resulted in altercations with opponents and teammates.

== Early life and education ==
Romanowski was born in [[Rockville, Connecticut|Vernon]], [[Connecticut]]. He graduated from [[Rockville High School (Connecticut)|Rockville High School]] in 1984 and [[Boston College]] in 1988 with academic honors, and was a Scanlan Award recipient.

== NFL career ==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 3 1/2
|       weight = 231
|         dash = 4.76
|    ten split = 1.67
| twenty split = 2.76
|      shuttle = 4.25
|     vertical = 31.5
|    hand span = 9 1/4
|         note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=26158 |title=Bill Romanowski, Combine Results, OLB - Boston College |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022121238/https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=26158 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

Romanowski went on to a 16-year career in the [[National Football League|NFL]], playing for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] (1988–1993), [[Philadelphia Eagles]] (1994–1995), [[Denver Broncos]] (1996–2001), and [[Oakland Raiders]] (2002–2003). After his career, he was listed by [[ESPN]] as the fifth dirtiest player in professional team sports history.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title = Dirtiest professional team players|url = https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/dirtiest/players.html|website = ESPN|access-date = February 8, 2016}}</ref>

Romanowski played [[List of most consecutive starts and games played by National Football League players#Consecutive games played|243 consecutive games]] during the 1988–2003 seasons,<ref>{{cite web|title = The Redskins Blog {{!}} Romanowski: Fletcher Deserves Record|url = http://www.redskins.com/?campaign=was:fanshare:facebook|access-date = February 8, 2016|archive-date = October 1, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231155/https://www.commanders.com/?campaign=was:fanshare:facebook|url-status = live}}</ref> an NFL record  that stood until [[Chris Gardocki]] broke it during the 2006 season, finishing his career with 265, (256 regular season and nine playoff games). He won four [[Super Bowl]] Championships, and played in five Super Bowls ([[Super Bowl XXIII]], [[Super Bowl XXIV]], [[Super Bowl XXXII]], [[Super Bowl XXXIII]] and [[Super Bowl XXXVII]]). His only loss was in the last of these.

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 one career touchdown. Romanowski was a [[Pro Bowl]] selection twice, in 1996 and 1998, both during his tenure with the Denver Broncos.

=== Altercations ===
Romanowski was 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 Cardinals]] fullback [[Larry Centers]] in the head.<ref>{{cite web|title = Romanowski Hits A Nerve|url = https://www.courant.com/1998/01/21/romanowski-hits-a-nerve/|website = The Courant|access-date = February 8, 2016|archive-date = October 1, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231205/https://www.courant.com/1998/01/21/romanowski-hits-a-nerve/|url-status = live}}</ref>

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 [[Carolina Panthers]] quarterback [[Kerry Collins]] in a preseason game resulting in Collins sustaining a broken jaw.<ref name=":0" />

In the second incident, Romanowski spat in the face of 49ers wide receiver [[J. J. Stokes]] in a regular-season game played in December on a [[Monday Night Football|Monday night]] in response to Stokes' taunting.<ref name="taipei">{{Cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2003/12/27/2003085389|title=Bill Romanowski: golden boy of NFL or common ruffian? - Taipei Times|date=December 27, 2003|website=www.taipeitimes.com|access-date=July 28, 2023|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231155/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2003/12/27/2003085389|url-status=live}}</ref>

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 [[groin attack|crotch area]].<ref name="sfist">{{cite web|url=http://sfist.com/2007/04/16/why_all_the_bill_romanowski_love.php|title=Why all the Bill Romanowski Love?|work=SFist|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522004426/http://www.sfist.com/2007/04/16/why_all_the_bill_romanowski_love.php|archive-date=May 22, 2007}}</ref>

==== Marcus Williams incident ====
In 2003, Romanowski attacked and injured one of his teammates, tight end [[Marcus Williams (tight end)|Marcus Williams]], during a scrimmage. Williams was forced to retire after Romanowski crushed his eye socket with the punch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1976461|title=Injured ex-Raider raises issue of ' 'roid rage'|date=January 27, 2005|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-date=August 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817060118/https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1976461|url-status=live}}</ref>

Williams sued for damages of $3.4 million, arguing that Romanowski had been suffering from "[[roid rage]]" when he attacked him. Williams was awarded $340,000 for lost wages and medical expenses by a jury.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title = Williams sought millions but pleased with verdict|url = https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2019325|website = ESPN.com|date = March 23, 2005|access-date = February 8, 2016|archive-date = October 1, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231150/https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2019325|url-status = live}}</ref> Williams was quoted as saying he and his lawyers "just wanted to prove what was right and wrong about football".<ref name="sfgate">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/23/ROMO.TMP |title=Romanowski dodges big payout / $340,000 verdict instead of millions ex-teammate sought |website=www.sfgate.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050324072827/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/23/ROMO.TMP |archive-date=2005-03-24}}</ref> Williams' attorney said he was very pleased with the verdict.<ref name=":1" />

==== Racism allegations ====
Romanowski has been accused of being racist at many points during his career and after retirement. Various media critics have pointed to his fines for actions including kicking [[Larry Centers]] in the head in 1995, spitting on San Francisco 49er receiver [[J.J. Stokes]] in 1997, and ripping Eddie George's helmet off in 2002, as evidence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Romanowski rages at racist allegations|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=20000817&id=nY9XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QPIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5688,5774562&hl=en|website=www.spokane.net|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=February 8, 2016|ref=1|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311231733/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=20000817&id=nY9XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QPIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5688,5774562&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ugly Plays: Most Racist Moments in Sports|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/fcgnx3/ugly-plays-most-racist-moments-in-sports/k0dzjm|website=BET|publisher=Black Entertainment Television LLC|access-date=February 8, 2016|ref=1|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231202/https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/fcgnx3/ugly-plays-most-racist-moments-in-sports/k0dzjm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mossman|first1=John|title=Romanowski: 'SI article absolute lie'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2026&dat=20000817&id=msEjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BdEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1619,1940863&hl=en|access-date=February 8, 2016|work=Moscow-Pulman Daily News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 17, 2000|ref=1|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311231531/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2026&dat=20000817&id=msEjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BdEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1619,1940863&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

Romanowski called [[Carolina Panthers]] starting quarterback [[Cam Newton]] "boy" in a tweet after Newton's team lost in [[Super Bowl 50]] and Newton conducted a very brief press interview.<ref name="King">{{cite web|last1=King|first1=Shaun|title=King: Bill Romanowski was blatantly racist even before he called Cam Newton 'boy' in post-Super Bowl tweet|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-bill-romanowski-calling-cam-newton-boy-racist-article-1.2523980|website=New York Daily News|date=February 8, 2016|publisher=NYDailyNews.com|access-date=February 8, 2016|ref=1|archive-date=February 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208173037/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-bill-romanowski-calling-cam-newton-boy-racist-article-1.2523980|url-status=live}}</ref> He later apologized after he was accused of being racist.<ref name="King"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Newton|first1=David|title=Cam Newton showing heartache after Super Bowl loss isn't necessarily a bad thing|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/19612/that-cam-newton-showed-his-hurt-after-super-bowl-loss-isnt-necessarily-a-bad-thing|website=ESPN GO|date=February 8, 2016|publisher=ESPN|access-date=February 8, 2016|ref=1|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231158/https://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/19612/that-cam-newton-showed-his-hurt-after-super-bowl-loss-isnt-necessarily-a-bad-thing|url-status=live}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Tackles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! Tfl !! PD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1988 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| '''16''' || 8 || 53 || – || – || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1989 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| '''16''' || 4 || 53 || – || – || 1.0 || – || – || 1 || 13 || '''13.0''' || 13 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 79 || – || – || 1.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 76 || – || – || 1.0 || – || – || 1 || 7 || 7.0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 80 || – || – || 1.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''104''' || – || – || 3.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 66 || 49 || 17 || 2.5 || – || – || 2 || 8 || 4.0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 63 || 50 || 13 || 1.0 || – || – || 2 || 5 || 2.5 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 77 || 56 || 21 || 3.0 || – || – || '''3''' || 1 || 0.3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || '''3''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1997 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 70 || 56 || 14 || 2.0 || – || – || 1 || 7 || 7.0 || 7 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1998 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 72 || 55 || 17 || '''7.5''' || – || – || 2 || 22 || 11.0 || '''18''' || 0 || 2 || '''3''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 73 || 57 || 16 || 0.0 || 4 || '''7''' || '''3''' || '''35''' || 11.7 || '''18''' || '''1''' || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 72 || 62 || 10 || 3.5 || 6 || 6 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 3 || 0 || '''4''' || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 69 || 55 || 14 || 7.0 || '''9''' || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 91 || '''65''' || '''26''' || 4.0 || 7 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 3 || 3 || 20 || 16 || 4 || 2.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RomaBi00.htm Career]
! 243 !! 222 !! 1,118 !! 521 !! 152 !! 39.5 !! 30 !! 20 !! 18 !! 98 !! 5.4 !! 18 !! 1 !! 16 !! 18 !! 0 !! 0
|}

===Postseason===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Tackles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! Tfl !! PD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[1988-89 NFL playoffs|1988]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1988 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 3 || 0 || 2 || – || – || 0.0 || – || – || '''1''' || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1989-90 NFL playoffs|1989]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1989 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 3 || 0 || 1 || – || – || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1990-91 NFL playoffs|1990]] !! [[1990 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 2 || 2 || 0 || – || – || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1992-93 NFL playoffs|1992]] !! [[1992 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 2 || 2 || 0 || – || – || '''1.0''' || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1993-94 NFL playoffs|1993]] !! [[1993 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]]
| 2 || 2 || 0 || – || – || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1995-96 NFL playoffs|1995]] !! [[1995 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 2 || 1 || 12 || 11 || 1 || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1996-97 NFL playoffs|1996]] !! [[1996 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1997-98 NFL playoffs|1997]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1997 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''4''' || '''4''' || 13 || 11 || 2 || 0.0 || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1998-99 NFL playoffs|1998]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1998 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 3 || 3 || 9 || 8 || 1 || '''1.0''' || – || – || '''1''' || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || -2 || 0
|-
! [[2000-01 NFL playoffs|2000]] !! [[2000 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 2 || 2 || 0.0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2002-03 NFL playoffs|2002]] !! [[2002 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 3 || 3 || '''20''' || '''15''' || '''5''' || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RomaBi00.htm Career]
! 26 !! 19 !! 63 !! 52 !! 11 !! 2.0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2 !! -2 !! 0
|}

==Post-NFL career==
Romanowski co-authored an autobiography in 2005 titled ''Romo My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons''. The book became a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' best-selling]] book in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title = Adam Schefter - ESPN MediaZone|url = http://espnmediazone.com/us/bios/schefter_adam/|website = ESPN MediaZone|access-date = February 8, 2016|language = en-US|archive-date = January 22, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160122032905/http://espnmediazone.com/us/bios/schefter_adam/|url-status = live}}</ref> It chronicles his childhood, college career, NFL career, living with post-concussion symptoms, nutrition, and recovery techniques used during his NFL playing career.

He was 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 Nutrition53, a nutritional supplement company. He was also a minority owner of [[NASCAR]]'s [[Swan Racing]] in 2013; Nutrition53 sponsored the team in 10 races that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/01/31/former-nfl-lb-romanowski-joins-swan-racing.html|title=Former NFL LB Romanowski joins Swan Racing|work=[[NASCAR]]|date=January 31, 2013|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-date=February 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203065954/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/01/31/former-nfl-lb-romanowski-joins-swan-racing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024 Romanowski and his wife declared bankruptcy after being sued by the I.R.S. for more than $15 million in unpaid back taxes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-NFL player Bill Romanowski, wife owe $15.3 million in back taxes, DOJ lawsuit alleges |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/06/22/bill-romanowski-wife-owe-15-million-back-taxes-doj-alleges/70345686007/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001231151/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/06/22/bill-romanowski-wife-owe-15-million-back-taxes-doj-alleges/70345686007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Michael David |title=Bill Romanowski files for bankruptcy as government seeks $15.5 million in back taxes |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bill-romanowski-files-for-bankruptcy-as-government-seeks-15-5-million-in-back-taxes |access-date=26 January 2025}}</ref>

=== Football ===
In 2008, Romanowski was the defensive coordinator for the Piedmont High School (California) Highlanders Freshman Football team, where his son played.

In January 2009, Romanowski threw his name into the search for [[Mike Shanahan]]'s replacement as the head coach of the [[Denver Broncos]]. Romanowski sent a 30-page [[PowerPoint]] presentation to team owner [[Pat Bowlen]], but was not considered for the job.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title = Romanowski full of ideas for Broncos|url = https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3836598|website = ESPN.com|date = January 16, 2009|access-date = February 8, 2016|archive-date = January 27, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190127094721/http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3836598|url-status = live}}</ref> The job was ultimately given to [[Josh McDaniels]].<ref name=":2" />

===BALCO Scandal===
Romanowski and his wife were investigated for prescription drug fraud, though the charges were later dropped.<ref name="findarticles">{{cite web|url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20020222/ai_n10001652|title = FindArticles.com - CBSi}}</ref> Records seized by the government belonging to the [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative]], later discovered to be the source of a designer steroid, indicate that he had used the [[anabolic steroid]] "[[the clear|The Clear]]" and [[testosterone (medication)|synthetic testosterone]] ointment "[[the cream|The Cream]]" provided by BALCO since 2003. Romanowski admitted to staying a step ahead of NFL drug testing policies.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title = Romanowski pushed his body to the limit|url = https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2070102&columnist=clayton_john|website = ESPN.com|date = May 27, 2005|access-date = February 8, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/balco-timeline.htm|title=BALCO investigation timeline - USATODAY.com|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022053923/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/balco-timeline.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===In media===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
| rowspan=2|2005
|''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]''
|Guard Lambert
|
|-
|''Shooting Gallery''
|Case
|
|-
|2006
|''[[The Benchwarmers]]''
|Karl
|
|-
| rowspan=3|2008
|''[[Wieners (film)|Wieners]]''
|Cowboy
|
|-
|''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]''
|Federal Air Marshal
|
|-
|''[[Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories]]''
|Biker
|
|-
|2011
|''[[Jack and Jill (2011 film)|Jack and Jill]]''
|Himself
|
|-
|2014
|''[[Blended (film)|Blended]]''
|Baseball Fan
|
|}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Footballstats |nfl=Bill-Romanowski
|espn=252 |cbs=4179 |yahoo=1787 |si=1787 |pfr=R/RomaBi00}}
*{{IMDb name| id=1665399 | name=Bill Romanowski }}

{{Navboxes| title = Bill Romanowski—championships, awards, and honors| list1 =
{{49ers1988DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XXIII}}
{{Super Bowl XXIV}}
{{Super Bowl XXXII}}
{{Super Bowl XXXIII}}
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}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romanowski, Bill}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vernon, Connecticut]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Boston College Eagles football players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Doping cases in American football]]
[[Category:American sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Piedmont, California]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Alameda County, California]]
[[Category:People from Rockville, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Tolland County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Violence in sports]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Connecticut]]