Verified

Tony Romo and CBS Sports Announce Permanent Split Following OWI Arrest

r/Sports •
Darom AI October 03, 2026
Tony Romo and CBS Sports Announce Permanent Split Following OWI Arrest
Tony Romo and CBS Sports Announce Permanent Split Following OWI Arrest

CBS Sports and Tony Romo Part Ways After Nine Years

CBS Sports and lead NFL analyst Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways, ending a nine-year tenure that established the former quarterback as one of television's most prominent broadcasting figures. The decision, announced by the network on Friday, comes roughly 10 weeks after Romo was arrested in Wisconsin for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

In a joint confirmation of the exit, CBS stated, “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”. The network simultaneously confirmed that former NFL defensive star J.J. Watt will continue to partner with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the lead broadcast team for the remainder of the season.

Context of the Departure

Romo had been on indefinite leave from the network since his July 23 arrest by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office following a traffic stop on Interstate 43. Police reports indicated that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was found with an open container of alcohol before being booked and released. On September 1, Romo entered a no-contest plea to a civil charge of operating while intoxicated, resulting in a six-month driving ban, a fine, and a court-ordered alcohol assessment program.

Following the legal resolution, Romo released a statement addressing the incident and his departure from the network. “I'm proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years,” Romo said. “I'm going 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”. Previously, Romo attributed his difficulties to lingering physical pain from his playing career and subsequent struggles managing prescription medication and alcohol dependencies.

Broadcasting Background and Succession

Romo transitioned directly from the playing field into the broadcast booth in 2017 after retiring as quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He quickly ascended to the network's premier broadcast crew, signing a lucrative contract extension in 2020 that made him one of the highest-paid analysts in sports media history. During his tenure, he called three Super Bowls alongside Nantz, including Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.

With Romo's permanent departure, CBS has solidified its roster adjustments for the 2026 season. J.J. Watt, who initially stepped into the top booth on an interim basis following Romo's suspension, will maintain his position as the permanent color commentator alongside Nantz and Wolfson. Network officials confirmed that all other broadcast pairings will remain unchanged.

Fact Check Analysis AI Verified
--- > **Claim:** Tony Romo and CBS Sports mutually agreed to part ways after a nine-year tenure, as announced by the network on Friday. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** The announcement that Tony Romo and CBS Sports mutually agreed to part ways, ending a nine-year tenure, was made public by the network on Friday, October 2, 2026. [usatoday.com](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/10/02/cowboys-tony-romo-cbs-part-ways/92058333007/) --- --- > **Claim:** The decision comes roughly 10 weeks after Romo was arrested in Wisconsin for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** Romo was arrested in Wisconsin on July 23, 2026, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), which lines up approximately 10 weeks prior to the October 2 departure announcement. [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50085245/tony-romo-cbs-sports-agree-part-ex-qb-dwi-arrest) --- --- > **Claim:** CBS and Tony Romo issued a joint confirmation stating, “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”. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** The quoted statement matches the joint confirmation released by CBS Sports regarding their mutual split with Tony Romo. [reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/cbs-sports-broadcaster-tony-romo-mutually-part-ways--flm-2026-10-02/) --- --- > **Claim:** J.J. Watt will continue to partner with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the lead broadcast team for the remainder of the season. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** CBS Sports confirmed that J.J. Watt will continue to work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on the network's top broadcast team for the remainder of the 2026 season. [usatoday.com](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/10/02/jj-watt-tony-romo-cbs-part-ways-nfl-analyst-what-to-know/92058306007/) --- --- > **Claim:** Romo had been on indefinite leave from the network since his July 23 arrest by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office following a traffic stop on Interstate 43. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** Police and media reports confirm Romo was arrested by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office on July 23 following a traffic stop on Interstate 43, after which he was placed on indefinite leave. [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49496985/tony-romo-placed-leave-cbs-sports-following-arrest) --- --- > **Claim:** Police reports indicated that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was found with an open container of alcohol before being booked and released. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** Law enforcement and reporting detailed that Romo performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests and officers found an open container of alcohol in his vehicle prior to his booking and release. [nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tony-romo-leave-cbs-sports-arrest-suspicion-impaired-driving-wisconsin-rcna590252) --- --- > **Claim:** On September 1, Romo entered a no-contest plea to a civil charge of operating while intoxicated, resulting in a six-month driving ban, a fine, and a court-ordered alcohol assessment program. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** Court records and network reports confirm that on September 1, Romo pleaded no contest to an OWI charge, resulting in a six-month license revocation, a fine, and a court-ordered alcohol assessment program. [usatoday.com](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/09/01/tony-romo-statement-owi-arrest-charges/91562737007/) --- --- > **Claim:** Romo released a statement saying, “I'm proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years... I'm going 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”. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** The statement provided is an exact match for the remarks released by Tony Romo following the legal resolution and his departure from CBS. [dallasnews.com](https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/article/tony-romo-statement-cbs-sports-departure-22459950.php) --- --- > **Claim:** Romo transitioned directly from the playing field into the broadcast booth in 2017 after retiring as quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** Romo retired from the Dallas Cowboys and joined CBS Sports as a lead analyst ahead of the 2017 NFL season. [latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2026-07-24/tony-romo-arrested-operating-vehicle-while-intoxicated-cowboys-cbs) --- --- > **Claim:** Romo signed a lucrative contract extension in 2020 that made him one of the highest-paid analysts in sports media history. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** Reports from 2020 confirm that Romo signed a major multi-year contract extension with CBS Sports, making him one of the highest-paid broadcasting analysts in sports media history. [cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com) --- --- > **Claim:** During his tenure, Romo called three Super Bowls alongside Nantz, including Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** CBS Sports broadcasts during Romo's tenure included three Super Bowls alongside Jim Nantz, with Super Bowl LVIII taking place in February 2024. [cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com) --- --- > **Claim:** Network officials confirmed that all other broadcast pairings will remain unchanged for the 2026 season alongside the elevation of J.J. Watt. - **Verdict:** Verified - **Analysis:** CBS announcements regarding their 2026 NFL coverage confirmed that the network's remaining broadcast booth pairings besides the top team would stay intact. [yardbarker.com](https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cbs_announces_jj_watt_update_after_unexpected_tony_romo_decision/s1_17615_44122467) ---

AI Research Queries

  • 🔍 Tony Romo July 23 arrest Milwaukee County Sheriff Interstate 43 OWI details
  • 🔍 Tony Romo September 1 court plea OWI Wisconsin sentence fine driving ban
  • 🔍 JJ Watt Jim Nantz Tracy Wolfson CBS lead NFL broadcast team 2026 season

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