Tony Romo leaves Broncos, Texans in the lurch after retirement from NFL

Tony Romo announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday with a simple tweet, leaving two teams wondering what exactly they’ll do next at quarterback.

Tony Romo let the NFL world know that he was finally retiring on Tuesday with a simple tweet that officially ended months of conjecture about where he might play next year. Unfortunately for the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys.

Both the Broncos and the Texans have a significant need at quarterback if they expect to make any playoff noise in a crowded AFC that’s only getting more competitive every year. Unfortunately the Dallas Cowboys played hard to get with Romo and that amount of time wondering whether or not Jerry Jones would really release Romo or trade him allowed for the veteran quarterback to consider a life outside the NFL—especially as outside suitors kept calling for him to enter broadcasting.

Both the Texans and the Broncos have a playoff-caliber defense that’s ready to make noise. Both teams have a strong pass rush and offensive weapons that would be perfect for a veteran like Romo. The problem is that the biggest need on both teams is at quarterback, and you can’t get far in the NFL with issues at the position.

The Houston Texans had already traded away Brock Osweiler earlier this year to the Cleveland Browns at a hefty cost just to get him off the books. Entering into the season with Tom Savage as the primary starter has to be a joke in the same division as the ascendant Titans, the hopeful Colts and a Jaguars team that always looks ready to turn the corner.

For the Broncos, they’re already third in the division and it’s hard to see Trevor Siemian being the one to catch the Chiefs or the Oakland Raiders. Paxton Lynch should be the answer, but he looked poor in limited duty last season and the Broncos have flirted around with Romo for a reason, with Elway stating earlier this offseason that he was open to anything at the position.