Former NFL star J.J. Watt will step into Romo’s role on the network’s top broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
Tony Romo Placed on Indefinite Leave After Wisconsin Arrest
CBS Sports announced that lead NFL color commentator Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice. The network’s decision came eight days after Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on July 23, 2026, on suspicion of operating while under the influence.
Romo was returning from the Wisconsin Amateur Championship golf tournament—where he finished 35-over-par and won $60—when officers pulled him over while he was traveling south on Interstate 43, according to citations viewed by the New York Post. Police documents state that Romo drove in the marked right distress lane to pass vehicles during rush hour traffic before cutting across the marked gore.
Traffic Stop Details, Sobriety Tests, and Citations
According to police reports, officers found an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage on the passenger side of Romo’s black Jeep. Police bodycam footage posted by TMZ and obtained by local outlets showed Romo telling a sheriff’s deputy that he had zero
drinks and was on his way to visit grandparents.
An arrest report stated that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests. Officers subsequently took him into custody, booked him, and released him. Court records show he was later cited for refusing to take test for intoxication after arrest.
“I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that. So, we’re not going to do that.”
Tony Romo, via New York Post
A spokesperson for the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office stated that because of the allegations against Romo, the case is classified as a traffic violation and not a criminal charge in Wisconsin.
Romo has a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 21, 2026, though he is not required to appear. Court records show he faces fines for the OWI offense, the open intoxicants offense, and unsafe passing on the right.
Contract Status and J.J. Watt Joining Jim Nantz on Top Broadcast Team
Romo joined CBS in 2017 after a 13-season playing career with the Dallas Cowboys, quickly earning acclaim for his ability to predict plays before they happened. In 2020, he signed a 10-year, $180 million contract extension.
CBS could potentially save $72 million from the final four years of his contract if it uses the arrest as a trigger to terminate his deal for cause. Otherwise, the network is obligated to continue paying him under the terms of his long-term agreement.
To fill the vacancy on the network’s lead broadcast team, CBS named J.J. Watt, who debuted as a game analyst on CBS’s No. 2 team last season alongside Ian Eagle, will now work alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.
CBS announced that it will release the remainder of its on-air talent roster for the 2026 NFL season at a later date.
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