Tony Romo and CBS Sports have mutually agreed to part ways following his no-contest plea to an operating while intoxicated charge.
“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” the company said in a statement. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
What Happened
CBS Sports had placed Romo on leave in late July after Wisconsin authorities arrested him on an operating while intoxicated charge following a traffic stop on Interstate 43. Romo pleaded no contest to the charge on Sept. 1. Wisconsin treats first-offense OWI cases as civil offenses.
Romo, who joined CBS Sports in 2017 after retiring from the NFL, addressed the split in a statement.
“I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years,” he said. “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.”
He added that he plans “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.”
What It Means for CBS’s NFL Coverage
J.J. Watt, who has filled in as lead analyst since Romo went on leave, will continue in that role for the rest of the season. He is joined by play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.
Romo’s exit closes out his tenure as one of the network’s marquee hires after CBS lured him away from a potential playing comeback to build its top NFL broadcast team around him. According to reports, CBS and Romo reached a financial settlement before the announcement. He had four years and $72 million remaining on his contract.
Background on the Arrest and Plea
Romo was arrested on July 23 after competing in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship golf tournament. He performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests, according to authorities, and declined to submit to a breathalyzer test. An open bottle of alcohol was found in his vehicle, though the specific location within the vehicle has not been confirmed.
As part of his plea, Romo’s license was revoked for six months; he was ordered to pay $834 in fines, and he must complete an alcohol assessment program. An ignition interlock device is required on any vehicle he owns or operates for at least one year after his license is reinstated.
In a statement after his plea, Romo said multiple back surgeries that ended his NFL career left him in “constant, debilitating pain,” which led to a dependence on pain medication. He said his effort to get off those medications “led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”
Romo has since made public appearances, including competing in PGA Tour Q-School pre-qualifying in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The exact date of his first public appearance since the arrest has not been independently confirmed by this outlet.
What’s Next
No timetable has been set for Romo’s next move, though he said in his statement that he is working with doctors on his health and looks toward “my next opportunity.” CBS Sports has not named a permanent replacement, with Watt expected to continue as lead analyst through the remainder of the current NFL season.
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