The Vikings Have Added a New Kicker With a Big Right Leg

John Parker Romo is looking to finally latch on with an NFL team.

Author:
Will Ragatz
Publish date:
Mar 12, 2024 9:46 AM EDT

In this story:

The Vikings have signed former XFL kicker John Parker Romo, according to Tom Pelissero. He attended Gary Zauner's free agent special teams combine this past weekend, won the event, and left with three NFL offers. Now he's headed to Minnesota, where he'll look to compete for the Vikings' currently-vacant kicking job.

Romo, who turns 27 this summer, is a Georgia native who had collegiate stops at Central Arkansas, Tulsa, and Virginia Tech. As a sixth-year senior at VT in 2021, he made all 34 of his extra point attempts and 18 of 22 field goals — including seven of nine from at least 40 yards.

After going undrafted in 2022, Romo signed with the Saints but was cut in August. He spent spring 2023 with the XFL's San Antonio Brahmas, making 17 of 19 field goal attempts to earn a spot on the All-XFL team. Romo then had brief stints with the Lions and Bears last year. He made a short field in the Lions' preseason opener but has yet to appear in a regular season game.

Romo has a big leg. He made a 57-yard field goal in the XFL and recent posted a video of himself hitting from 73 yards out on a practice field.

Greg Joseph, who has been underwhelming as the Vikings' kicker over the past three seasons, is a free agent. That means Romo is currently the only kicker on the roster, but that will change. Whether it's Joseph or someone else, Minnesota will surely bring in someone with NFL experience to compete with Romo for the job in 2024.