CBS Sports and Tony Romo agreed to mutually terminate their association, ending a nine-year tenure as the network’s lead NFL game analyst. The separation comes one month after Romo entered a no-contest plea to a drunken driving charge in Wisconsin following his July arrest, according to public records and network statements.
Departure from CBS Sports After Nine Seasons
CBS Sports announced Friday that the network and Romo decided to part ways. Romo had served as the lead analyst for NFL broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz since 2017, when the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback transitioned into the broadcast booth.
During Romo’s absence following his July 23 arrest on Highway 43 in Wisconsin, analyst JJ Watt stepped into the primary broadcast booth alongside Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. CBS Sports confirmed that Watt will continue in that role and that all other broadcast crews will remain unchanged.
In a public statement regarding his departure, Romo reflected on his tenure in television. “I am proud of what I have accomplished at CBS Sports over the past nine years,” Romo said. “I approached my role as an analyst like I approached everything else in my life — with the desire to win and be the best that I could be. I am going to use this time to take a break, something I have never done before, and focus on my health and family before moving on to my next opportunity.”
Legal Proceedings and Personal Statements in Wisconsin
Romo was arrested during a traffic stop while driving south on Highway 43 in the state of Wisconsin. On September 1, he pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence. Milwaukee County court records show that the former quarterback lost his driving privileges for six months and was ordered to complete an alcohol assessment program.
In an Instagram statement published on September 1, Romo addressed the arrest and the events leading up to it. “The last month has been difficult, but it has also been important on a personal level,” Romo stated. “It took facing and fully owning my mistakes — before the Lord, before myself, before my family and now before the public.”
Romo detailed physical complications stemming from his playing career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2004 to 2016, during which he earned four Pro Bowl nods. Multiple back surgeries left him with constant and debilitating pain, he explained. That chronic pain led to reliance on painkillers, and subsequent efforts to stop taking those medications resulted in an excessive dependency on alcohol.
“None of this is an excuse,” Romo stated. “These are my failures and I take responsibility for them.” He added that he is currently working with a medical team to address his health concerns and enact necessary lifestyle changes.
Romo Leaves Broadcasting to Focus on Family
At age 46, Romo departs from broadcasting. His hire by CBS in 2017 saw him take the network’s lead game analyst role.
With his departure now finalized, Romo stated he intends to step away from television temporarily to focus on personal rehabilitation and family before considering future career opportunities.
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