CBS Sidelines Tony Romo Following Wisconsin OWI Arrest
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The network's lead NFL analyst is on indefinite leave after a July traffic stop; JJ Watt promoted to lead booth.
CBS Sports has placed lead NFL analyst Tony Romo on leave until further notice following his arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence, according to reporting from The Guardian.
The incident occurred on July 23 in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office reported that Romo, 46, was stopped while driving south on Interstate 43 after he was observed passing vehicles in a gore area—the space separating interstate traffic from on-ramp entries. During the stop, police noted Romo questioned the definition of a gore area.
According to The Guardian, body camera footage reveals Romo told deputies he was traveling from a golf course to visit his grandparents. A deputy cited Romo's "red glassy eyes" and the "odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage" as reasons for suspecting impairment. Following poor performance on field sobriety tests, Romo was taken into custody, booked, and released. Citations from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office further indicate that an inventory of Romo's black Jeep, conducted before the vehicle was towed, uncovered an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage on the passenger side.
As a result of the arrest, CBS Sports announced Friday that Romo is on indefinite leave. To fill the void in the lead booth, CBS is promoting JJ Watt to join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. Watt, who joined the network in 2023, previously served as an analyst on "The NFL Today" for two seasons and most recently worked as part of the network's No. 2 crew alongside Ian Eagle, per The Guardian.
While Romo was not scheduled to appear on air until the regular season opener on September 13, CBS is set to broadcast a preseason matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals on August 28. The network is expected to release its announcer pairings and game assignments for the first three weeks of the regular season in the coming weeks.
Romo, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback from 2004-16 and a four-time Pro Bowler, has served as the lead analyst for CBS since 2017. He remains the Cowboys' all-time leader in touchdown passes with 248. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 21.
Yahoo Sports reports that Romo now faces an uncertain future with the network as he remains on leave.