CBS Sports and Tony Romo part ways following July drunk driving arrest
CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways after nine years, keeping J.J. Watt as the network's lead NFL analyst alongside Jim Nantz for the remainder of the 2026 season following Romo's July arrest in Wisconsin.
Mutual separation at CBS
CBS Sports and Tony Romo mutually agreed to end their broadcasting partnership on Friday, concluding Romo's nine-year tenure as the network's top NFL analyst. The decision follows a ten-week period on indefinite leave after his arrest in Wisconsin on driving charges. Romo joined CBS in 2017 directly after his retirement from the NFL and later signed a 10-year contract in 2020 valued at $180 million.
The television network released a statement confirming the departure and expressing appreciation for his work on the broadcast team.
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.
Traffic stop and legal penalties
The split originates from a traffic stop on July 23, 2026, when law enforcement officers pulled Romo over while he drove a black Jeep southbound on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. According to citations from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, the 46-year-old former quarterback was leaving a golf course to visit relatives. Officers noted that Romo displayed glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol, and an inventory prior to towing located an open container of alcohol on the passenger side.
- Arrested on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin for operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Pleaded no contest in Milwaukee County court and received a six-month driving suspension
- CBS Sports and Romo announce mutual agreement to part ways
Romo failed on-site field sobriety tests and was taken into custody before being booked and released. On September 1, 2026, he entered a plea of no contest to the civil charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in a Milwaukee County court. The judge imposed a six-month suspension of his driving privileges, ordered the installation of an ignition interlock device on his vehicle, mandated an alcohol assessment program, and levied a fine of $834.
Injury history and booth transition
Following the court resolution, Romo addressed the personal circumstances surrounding the incident on social media. He explained that physical trauma accumulated over his 13-year career with the Dallas Cowboys had created chronic pain management difficulties.
Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain. That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.
During his playing days from 2004 to 2016, Romo was selected to four Pro Bowls and threw 248 touchdown passes for Dallas. He missed 10 regular-season games in 2010 and 12 games in 2015 after suffering three broken collarbones and undergoing multiple back procedures, before playing just one game in his final season. Dak Prescott surpassed Romo's franchise mark of 34,183 passing yards in the previous season.
With Romo stepping aside, CBS Sports confirmed that J.J. Watt will remain in the primary analyst role alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson for the rest of the 2026 NFL season. Watt moved into the lead booth when Romo was placed on leave in late summer. Romo stated that he plans to step away from broadcasting temporarily to recuperate with his family before evaluating future career opportunities.
