The San Francisco 49ers brass just wrapped up the 2024 NFL Draft and have their sites set on making — and hopefully winning — the Super Bowl to conclude the 2025 campaign.
One of their former players, who put together an impressive 16-year run in the NFL but spent his first 6 seasons with the 49ers, is focused on something very different.
Bill Romanowski — who should be a household name for anyone who followed the NFL throughout the 90’s — has gotten himself in quite the pickle when it comes to paying (or not paying) his taxes.
The San Francisco 49ers third round draft pick from 1988 and his wife filed for bankruptcy on Monday.
The bankruptcy filing came at a pivotal moment for the Romanowskis − less than 24 hours before a scheduled hearing Tuesday in the civil case that Department of Justice lawyers brought against the couple last summer. U.S. attorneys allege that the Romanowskis used a nutrition company they founded to skirt tax obligations and now owe more than $15.5 million in back taxes.
Under federal law, filing for bankruptcy will give the Romanowskis a temporary reprieve, triggering an automatic pause in the Department of Justice’s efforts to collect on the alleged money owed.
I’s alleged the former San Francisco 49ers star and his wife — who won two Super Bowls with the organization before winning another two with the Denver Broncos — used money from their business accounts to pay for a variety of personal goods an services that broke US tax laws.
The couple allegedly used money from Nutrition53 accounts to pay for things like rent, groceries, veterinarian bills and “over 170 visits to nail salons, hair salons and day spas,” the report said, citing court records.
Nutrition53 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.
The bankruptcy filing automatically pauses the DOJ’s pursuit of the Romanowskis’ alleged debt.
Bill Romanowski’s 16-Year NFL Career Riddled With Controversy Once He Left San Francisco 49ers
Romanowski played 243 consecutive games during the 1988–2003 seasons, an NFL record that stood until Chris Gardocki broke it during the 2006 season, finishing his career with 265, (256 reg. season and 9 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 lattermost.
He was voted to the PFWA All-Rookie team after a stellar first season with the San Francisco 49ers.
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 1 career touchdown. Romanowski was a Pro Bowl selection twice, in 1996 and 1998, both during his tenure with the Denver Broncos.
Romanowski will always be known for his dirty play and altercations throughout his time in the NFL.
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.
ESPN voted the former San Francisco 49ers bruiser as 5th dirtiest player in professional sports history.
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.
In 2003, Romanowski attacked and injured one of his teammates, tight end Marcus Williams, during a scrimmage. Williams was forced to retire after Romanowski crushed his eye socket with the punch.
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. Williams was quoted as saying he and his lawyers “just wanted to prove what was right and wrong about football”Williams’ attorney said he was very pleased with the verdict.
