CBS sidelined the former quarterback following a Wisconsin DUI arrest, leaving his broadcasting future in doubt as J.J. Watt steps into the booth for the season opener.
DALLAS - Lead CBS NFL color analyst and former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo has been placed on leave “until further notice,” the network announced Friday morning.
The announcement comes just over a week after Romo’s arrest in Wisconsin for suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Romo’s arrest transpired last Thursday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after a traffic stop and a subsequent failed field sobriety test. Additional details and bodycam footage have been released in the last week, including the assertion that Romo having an open bottle of alcohol within his vehicle.
With speculation abound surrounding his future with the network, Romo is now out of the booth until further notice.
Romo, whose court hearing date is set for September 21, could use the next month and a half to regroup personally and seek help for what some will assert is a serious problem.
This leave of absence will give both Romo and CBS time to figure out the best next steps, including when (or if) Romo will be put back into the spotlight. ... a decision that could be influenced by speculation that the network has been displeased with his work ethic.
Romo, who spent 13 seasons in Dallas as the Cowboys’ longtime signal-caller, arrived in the broadcast booth at CBS ahead of the 2017 NFL season, where he replaced Phil Simms as the lead analyst alongside Jim Nantz.
Initially met with immense praise for his knowledge of the game, Romo has since faced scrutiny in recent seasons on-air, particularly following the 2025 NFL season. Now, ahead of what was set to be Romo’s 10th campaign on-air, the Cowboys’ legend is sidelined for the foreseeable future in the wake of the network's rather terse statement.
In the meantime, former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall-of-Famer JJ Watt is set to step in during Romo’s absence. Following his retirement from the league, Watt joined CBS’ television broadcasting team in 2025 as the network’s No. 2 analyst, hitting the airwaves with Ian Eagle.
Watt will step into the booth with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson for his first fill-in assignment on Sunday, September 13 during Week 1.
