McIntosh HS alum Romo wows in Falcons debut

McIntosh High alum Parker Romo had a fairytale return home, helping the Atlanta Falcons to victory and earning a share of Player of the Game honors in his first game with the team. 

“I’m very grateful to be back in Georgia and put on for the home team,” Romo said in a press conference leading up to the game. 

It was a whirlwind week for Romo, a 2015 MHS graduate. On Tuesday, he was one of 6 kickers the Falcons brought in for a tryout. He was the only one signed, earning a spot on the team’s practice squad. 

He spent Friday night before the game getting back to his roots. Romo caught up with the Chiefs for their road game against Morrow. He spoke to the team and offered pointers to the kickers as they went on to win 36-15. A multi-sport athlete at the school, he was also a part of the band program, so he made sure to visit with the Spirit of McIntosh Marching Band during the game. 

After just a couple practices with the team, he found out Saturday morning he was being elevated to the active roster and would be the team’s kicker for the Sunday night game in Minnesota. 

He was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals, along with 1-for-1 on extra points, as the Falcons rolled to a 22-6 win over the Vikings. His performance earned him a share of Player of the Game honors from the Sunday Night Football crew and a postgame interview. He was also awarded a game ball by head coach Raheem Morris. 

Parker was the epitome of patience in launching his pro career. He kicked for three schools in college, and spent one season in the XFL, earning all-league honors in 2023. 

Before Atlanta, he spent time in with five NFL teams, finally making his debut in a regular season game with the Vikings in November 2024. 

That Vikings run made him the first McIntosh alum to ever reach the NFL. He went 11-for-12 on field goals as an injury replacement over four games with them before returning to the free agent market. 

Now, it looks like he may have found a NFL home back home in Georgia.