Tony Romo on Leave at CBS Sports After DUI Arrest

Tony Romo may face a delay of game after being arrested in Milwaukee last week on suspicion of driving under the influence. CBS Sports said Friday that Romo, its star NFL analyst and a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, was “on leave until further notice,” a move that may sideline its star analyst just as the next NFL season comes into closer focus. Romo on July 23 was stopped as he was driving on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, according to press reports and citations released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. An open bottle of alcohol was spotted in the black Jeep he was driving. Romo refused to take an intoxication test after his arrest and has a court appearance scheduled for Sept. 21. Popular on Variety The NFL’s 2026-2027 season starts on Sept. 9. On CBS’ telecasts, JJ Watt and Tracy Wolfson will join Romo’s regular on-air partner, Jim Nantz, during Romo’s absence. Romo, whose deal with CBS was valued in 2020 at about $17 million per year, has been an instrumental part of the company’s roster of sports talent, and the company’s decision to put him on leave could have consequences beyond who will call the opening game in CBS’ next season of telecasting professional football in the afternoon. The NFL has already held preliminary talks with CBS parent Paramount Skydance, according to two people familiar with the matter, about certain terms of a new rights deal. The change of control of the company, which is backed by the Ellison family, who bought Paramount from longtime owner Shari Redstone, triggered the league’s ability to discuss terms. CBS, like Fox, NBCUniversal, Disney and Amazon, is in the middle of an 11-year pact with the NFL that will keep games tied to those companies through 2033. The challenge? The league has an option that allows it to renegotiate terms with most of the companies after 2029, and with Disney after 2030. Romo only had experience on the field when he joined CBS Sports in 2017 as the lead game analyst on the network’s popular “NFL on CBS.” Behind the scenes, however, Romo worked with CBS football producer Jim Rikhoff to find his footing in the studio. “We rehearsed different games, old games, took the audio off, did a lot of trial and error, until we found his voice,” Rikhoff told Variety in 2019. “He’s experienced and talks about the games in ways that most people understand,” he said. “It really feels authentic. I try to stay out of his way and give him as much leeway as I can.” Romo’s acumen for predicting game play drew notice almost immediately, and lent new polish to a broadcast that has been around since the days of Brent Musburger and Pat Summerall. Watt has gained momentum in recent years, signing a multi-year deal with CBS in 2023 to serve as a studio analyst, following his retirement after playing years with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.