Tony Romo Leaves CBS Sports After DUI Arrest

Tony Romo, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and well‑known American football analyst, will no longer be part of CBS Sports' broadcast team. The departure comes after a mutual agreement between Romo and the network, following his July arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The CBS Sports Exit

CBS Sports and Tony Romo announced they have reached a mutual agreement to end the partnership. The network thanked Romo for his contributions over the past nine years and wished him the best. Romo served as one of CBS's lead commentators during NFL games after a distinguished playing career.

The incident and Romo's admission

Romo's decision and CBS Sports' move follow his July arrest, when he was detained in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Police said he "performed poorly" on standard field sobriety tests. Romo later did not contest the charge of operating a vehicle under the influence.

In an Instagram post last month, Romo explained that the pain from his playing career led to an "excessive dependence on alcohol." He detailed that "multiple back surgeries ended my career sooner than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain." That pain, he said, "led to a dependence on painkillers, and my attempts to quit those meds resulted in an excessive dependence on alcohol."

He said he is taking responsibility for his "mistakes" and is working with a team of doctors. Romo described the past month as "difficult, but also personally significant," requiring him to "confront and fully own my errors — before the Lord, myself, my family and now the public."

The broadcast impact

Initially, Romo was suspended by CBS Sports after the incident. The network elevated former NFL star defender J.J. Watt to replace him. CBS Sports confirmed that Watt will continue to partner with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as the lead NFL broadcast team for the remainder of the season.

Tony Romo's future

In his own statement, Romo expressed pride in his time at CBS Sports but emphasized the need for time to rehabilitate after the legal incident. He said, "I will use this time to take a break, something I have never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity." Romo also mentioned he plans to apply lessons from football to move forward after the arrest and define his next steps in life. He reiterated his gratitude for the support of his family, friends, and the NFL community.

With information from NBC News, CNN.