Tony Romo exits CBS Sports after July DUI arrest in Wisconsin

CBS Sports announced Friday that Tony Romo will not return as its lead NFL game analyst following his July arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Romo, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who held the position since 2017, was arrested on July 23 after a traffic stop on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Court records indicate an arresting officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and that Romo performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests.

On September 1, Romo pleaded no contest to the charge. A Milwaukee County court ordered him to lose his driving privileges for six months, install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he owns or operates, complete an alcohol assessment program, and pay a $784 fine. In a statement released with his plea, Romo attributed his actions to pain management issues stemming from multiple back surgeries that ended his playing career. He stated that the pain "led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol," adding "None of this is an excuse. These are my failures and I take responsibility for them."

"CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways," the network said in its Friday announcement. "We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward." J.J. Watt, who assumed the analyst role when Romo was placed on leave, will continue in the position alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.

Romo, 46, said he plans to take time off to focus on his health and family before pursuing future opportunities. In his statement, he expressed pride in his nine years at CBS and noted he approached the analyst role "the way I've approached everything in my life — with a desire to win and be the best that I can be." Romo played 13 seasons as a quarterback for Dallas from 2004 to 2016 and made four Pro Bowl appearances during his NFL career.