Tony Romo Exits CBS Sports After Nine Years Following July OWI Arrest as Network and Former Cowboys Quarterback Part Ways Ahead of the 2026 NFL Season, Ending His Run Alongside Jim Nantz on the Network’s No. 1 Broadcast Team

Tony Romo Exits CBS Sports After Nine Years Following OWI Arrest

Tony Romo’s nine-year run as one of CBS Sports’ most recognizable NFL analysts has come to an end.

CBS Sports and Romo announced Friday, October 2, 2026, that they had mutually agreed to part ways, ending the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback’s tenure as the network’s lead NFL game analyst. The announcement came more than two months after Romo was arrested in Wisconsin on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement, thanking Romo for his contributions over the previous nine years and wishing him well.

Romo had been a central figure in CBS’s NFL coverage since joining the network for the 2017 season. He was paired with longtime play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, becoming part of CBS’s top NFL broadcast team and developing a reputation for his energetic and often detailed explanations of plays.

The July Arrest

The departure follows a legal matter that began in July.

Romo was arrested on July 23 after a traffic stop in Wisconsin and was charged with operating while intoxicated. CBS subsequently placed him on a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties on July 31.

On September 1, Romo pleaded no contest to the OWI charge. According to court records cited by the Associated Press and NFL, he lost his driving privileges for six months and was ordered to complete an alcohol assessment program.

Romo publicly addressed the situation after entering his plea, taking responsibility for the circumstances surrounding his arrest. He also said that he was working with medical professionals and intended to make changes in his life.

Romo Says He Will Focus on Health and Family

Following the announcement of his departure from CBS, Romo said he planned to step away from work for a period of time.

He said he was proud of what he accomplished during his nine seasons with CBS and expressed gratitude for his family, friends, the NFL community and viewers.

Romo said he would use the break to focus on his health and family while considering what he wants to do next in his career.

The decision marks a major change for a broadcaster who had become closely associated with CBS’s premier NFL broadcasts.

J.J. Watt Takes Over Lead Analyst Role

CBS has already had a replacement working alongside Nantz during Romo’s absence.

Former NFL star J.J. Watt stepped into the lead analyst position while Romo was on leave. CBS confirmed that Watt will continue alongside Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The rest of CBS Sports’ NFL broadcast teams are expected to remain unchanged.

Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, joined CBS Sports in 2023 after a 12-year playing career with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals. He had previously appeared on CBS’s NFL pregame coverage before moving into game broadcasting.

The End of a Nine-Year Broadcasting Era

Romo arrived at CBS immediately after ending his playing career with the Dallas Cowboys. During his NFL career, he made four Pro Bowls and became one of the most prominent quarterbacks in Cowboys history.

His transition from quarterback to broadcaster was closely watched, and he quickly became a major part of CBS’s NFL presentation.

For nine seasons, Romo worked with Nantz on some of the network’s biggest games. His departure now closes that chapter and leaves Watt as Nantz’s partner on CBS’s lead NFL team.

For Romo, the next stage of his career remains open. He has indicated that he intends to take some time away from broadcasting before deciding on his next opportunity.

For CBS, meanwhile, the network has settled on a new lead analyst for the remainder of the 2026 NFL season, with Watt continuing in the booth alongside Nantz and Wolfson.

The announcement therefore brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding Romo’s CBS future that began with his July leave of absence and continued through his September court proceedings. After nine years, one of the most recognizable analyst partnerships in NFL broadcasting has officially come to a close.