CBS and Tony Romo Part Ways Following DUI Arrest
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The network and its lead NFL analyst, who was under a record $180 million contract, have mutually agreed to separate.
CBS Sports announced Friday that Tony Romo will not return as an NFL analyst, according to reporting from The Guardian. The network stated that it and Romo have mutually agreed to part ways.
The decision follows Romo's arrest on July 23 in Wisconsin for operating a vehicle while under the influence. The Guardian reports that the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office documented Romo performing poorly on field sobriety tests prior to being booked and released. On September 1, Romo pleaded no contest to the charge, resulting in a six-month driving ban, a $834 fine, the requirement of an interlock device in his vehicle, and a mandate to complete an alcohol assessment program.
From a business perspective, the separation ends the tenure of a high-value asset. Romo, 46, signed a 10-year, $180 million contract in 2020, which was a record for a network analyst at the time. He had served as the lead analyst for CBS's NFL coverage since 2017.
In a statement, Romo said he would use the time to focus on his health and family, noting that football injuries had indirectly caused an “over-reliance on alcohol.”
Regarding the network's broadcasting lineup, CBS confirmed that JJ Watt will continue as the lead NFL game analyst, working alongside sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson and play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz. Watt had been filling in for Romo, who was on indefinite leave, since before the start of the current season.