Tony Romo and CBS Sports part ways after July drunk-driving arrest

Tony Romo will not return as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports, the network announced on Friday, following his July arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence.

Romo’s legal case began after a traffic stop on 23 July in Wisconsin, during which the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office report said he performed poorly on field sobriety tests before being taken into custody, booked and released. He pleaded no contest to the charge on 1 September and was given a six-month driving ban. He was also ordered to have an interlock device placed on his vehicle, pay a fine of $834 and complete an alcohol assessment program.

“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.” The announcement followed Romo’s indefinite leave from CBS after the July traffic stop.

Romo issued his own statement on Friday, saying, “I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years. I approached my role as a game analyst the way I’ve approached everything in my life – with a desire to win and be the best that I can be.” After his no-contest plea last month, Romo said his football injuries indirectly led to an “over-reliance on alcohol” and vowed to “own my mistakes fully”.

CBS said JJ Watt will continue to serve as the network’s lead NFL game analyst. When Romo was placed on leave before the start of this season, Watt was pulled up to fill in on the network’s top broadcasting team. He worked alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.

Romo, 46, had been the lead analyst for CBS’s NFL coverage since 2017. His playing career ran from 2004 to 2016 and was spent entirely with Dallas, during which he made four Pro Bowl appearances. In 2020 he signed a then-record 10-year, $180m contract to be the network’s top analyst.

“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. I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans,” Romo said, saying he will take time to consider his next steps.