Tony Romo Exits CBS After 9 Years as Lead NFL Analyst

Tony Romo is departing CBS Sports after a nine-year stint as their principal NFL analyst, the network announced on Friday. "CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually decided to part ways," the organization declared in a statement. "We appreciate Tony's contributions over the past nine years and extend our best wishes for his future endeavors."

Romo's representative conveyed his pride in his tenure at CBS and plans to take a hiatus to concentrate on his health and family before exploring his next move. "I am thankful for my time with CBS Sports and for the ongoing support of my family, friends, the NFL community, and fans," he added.

Romo had been on leave from CBS Sports since July 31, eight days after his arrest in Milwaukee on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. J.J. Watt assumed his position on the network’s lead NFL broadcast team, sharing the spotlight with Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. CBS Sports president David Berson revealed in August that there was "no set timeline" for Romo's return, stating that the organization had to weigh the incident's impact on its "image and brand."

Romo was charged with a first-offense OWI (operating while intoxicated) on September 1, admitting it was a "personal failure" and attributing his over-reliance on alcohol to multiple back surgeries and previous pain medication use. He had intended to resume his role with CBS "in due course."

Romo joined CBS Sports in 2017 following his NFL retirement, replacing Phil Simms alongside Nantz as the network's lead NFL game analyst. His keen ability to anticipate plays before the snap made him a standout voice in NFL broadcasting. CBS agreed to a lucrative, long-term contract with Romo in 2020, worth $17 million per year, which was then the highest annual salary for a sports analyst.

Watt will continue to work with Nantz and Wolfson on CBS’ lead NFL broadcast team for the remainder of the season. However, it remains uncertain whether Watt will permanently replace Romo beyond this season.