Tony Romo and CBS Sports have mutually agreed to part ways following the broadcaster’s arrest and subsequent no-contest plea to operating a vehicle while intoxicated charges in Wisconsin, ending a nine-year tenure in the lead NFL broadcast booth.
Tony Romo Leaves CBS Sports After Nine Years
The nine-year broadcast run for Tony Romo at CBS Sports has officially ended.
Romo was arrested on July 23 following a golf event in Wisconsin after a traffic stop in Milwaukee. Following the July incident, the network placed the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on indefinite leave.
“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
CBS Sports, Official Statement
Reflecting on his tenure in the television booth, Romo issued a personal statement addressing his departure from the network.
“I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years. I approached my role as a game analyst the way I’ve approached everything in my life – with a desire to win and be the best that I can be. I’m going to use this time to take a break, something I’ve never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity. I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans.”
Tony Romo, via USA Today
J.J. Watt Takes the Lead Broadcast Booth
With Romo out of the lineup, J.J. Watt will remain in the network’s top broadcast booth for the remainder of the season. Watt initially stepped into the role on an interim basis after Romo was sidelined in August.
CBS Sports President David Berson explained the network’s initial decision to sideline Romo and promote Watt to establish stability right before the start of the regular season.
“We have to consider the impact on our image and on our brand.”
David Berson, CBS Sports President
Watt will continue to partner with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the lead NFL announce team. All other network broadcasting crews remain unchanged, including the team of Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker, and Evan Washburn.
Tony Romo Concludes His Historic Broadcasting Contract
When Romo transitioned from the field to the television booth in 2017, his instant analysis of opposing defenses and infectious enthusiasm made him an immediate star in sports broadcasting. That initial impact led to a massive contract extension in early 2020, when Romo and CBS agreed to a 10-year, $180 million deal that reset the market for color commentators across the industry. At the time of his departure, Romo had four years and approximately $72 million remaining on that agreement.
Viewer enthusiasm cooled as some critics felt his predictive style had worn thin. Now, as Romo steps away from the booth to focus on his family and health, the network looks toward its broadcast future — holding rights to air the Super Bowl in 2028.
“We have to consider the impact on our image and on our brand.”
David Berson, CBS Sports President
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