CBS Sports placed lead NFL analyst Tony Romo on leave until further notice
on Friday, July 31, 2026. The decision follows the July 23 arrest of the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, leaving the network’s top broadcast team without its primary color commentator.
The network’s announcement arrived eight days after the incident, ending a period of silence from CBS. While the company confirmed Romo is stepping away, it did not specify if the leave was initiated by the network or requested by Romo himself.
Milwaukee Arrest and OWI Charges
The legal trouble began on July 23 when Romo was stopped while driving a black Jeep on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee. According to documents from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, police discovered an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage
inside the vehicle. Romo was reportedly in the Midwest to compete in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship golf tournament.
Bodycam footage obtained by NBC 5 shows Romo telling a sheriff’s deputy during the stop that he had consumed zero
drinks and was traveling to see his grandparents. However, an arrest report states that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was subsequently taken into custody, booked, and released.
Court records indicate that Romo was cited for refusing to take an intoxication test following the arrest. He has a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 21, though reports note he is not required to appear at that specific proceeding.
JJ Watt Steps Into the Lead Role
To fill the gap, CBS has named former NFL star JJ Watt as the temporary replacement. Watt, who joined the network as a studio analyst in 2023 and worked as a game analyst on the No. 2 team last season, will now join Nantz and Wolfson on the lead broadcast team during Romo’s absence.
Watt brings a decorated playing career to the booth, having recorded 114.5 career sacks across 12 seasons with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals. His transition to the lead team comes as CBS prepares for a tight timeline; the network begins broadcasting preseason games on August 13, with the NFL 2026-2027 season starting Sept. 9. The first regular season broadcasts are scheduled for Sept. 13.
Financial Stakes and Contractual Risks
The resolution of Romo’s status carries significant financial implications for CBS. In 2020, the network signed Romo to a 10-year, $180 million contract extension, establishing him as one of the highest-paid personalities in sports media. Current reports place his annual earnings at approximately $18 million.
Whether CBS continues to pay Romo during this leave depends on the specific language of his contract. If the arrest does not meet the legal definition of termination with cause
, the network may be obligated to continue payments. However, the financial incentive to move on is steep; if the network uses the arrest as a trigger to terminate the deal, CBS could potentially save $72 million over the final four years of the contract.
This financial tension arrives as Romo’s professional standing had already been under scrutiny. While he earned the nickname Romostradamus
early in his tenure for his ability to predict plays, more recent years have seen increased criticism regarding on-air miscues and a perceived lack of work ethic.
Corporate Shifts and NFL Rights
The timing of this instability coincides with a shift in corporate control at CBS’s parent company. Paramount Skydance, backed by the Ellison family, has taken over from longtime owner Shari Redstone. This change of control has triggered the NFL’s ability to discuss terms of a new rights deal.
CBS is currently tied to the NFL through 2033 via an 11-year pact. However, the league maintains an option to renegotiate terms with most partners after 2029. The instability of the lead broadcast team occurs just as the league and the network navigate these preliminary talks.
Whether JJ Watt remains a temporary solution or becomes the permanent No. 1 analyst remains uncertain. CBS stated Friday that it will announce the full talent roster for the 2026 NFL season at a later date.
