Jim Nantz Believes Tony Romo Will Return to Sports Broadcasting

Jim Nantz, a long-time broadcasting partner of Tony Romo, stated that the former NFL quarterback will "unquestionably" return to sports broadcasting. Romo departed CBS earlier this month following his drunk driving arrest in July and a subsequent agreement with the network to part ways on October 2.

In his first public comments on the matter, Nantz told the "Traina Thoughts" podcast that Romo possesses significant talent and a notable personality that will likely lead to future opportunities in the media. "I don’t know if it’s calling games or being in studio, but he’s got a lot of talent," Nantz said. "He’s got a lot of people who like him, and he’s a star. He’s got a personality that, it’s different, and that’s a good thing. He’s a bigger-than-life personality."

Nantz acknowledged that he does not know Romo's current mindset regarding his career but expressed confidence in his future prospects. "I think there will be plenty of opportunity for that because he’s got game," Nantz added.

Romo was arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence in Wisconsin after participating in a golf tournament. Approximately a week later, he was placed on leave from his role at CBS. Following Romo's departure, JJ Watt, who had begun calling games with Ian Eagle, replaced him in the network's top NFL booth alongside Nantz.

Romo, 46, admitted in a September 1 statement that he had an "over-reliance on alcohol," which he attributed to his struggles with pain medication dependency stemming from multiple back surgeries. The terms of his separation from CBS, which concluded on October 2, reportedly include Romo receiving "a good portion" of the remaining $72 million on his contract, which had four years left.

Nantz stated that while "no one can defend" Romo's drunk driving incident, he reached out to Romo as a friend after learning of his situation while preparing to call the Chiefs-Raiders game. Nantz expressed his belief in Romo's ability to overcome this period, citing Romo's strong home support system. Nantz also clarified that he played no role in CBS's decision regarding Romo.

Nantz and Romo developed a friendship around 2010, bonding over their shared interest in golf, a sport Nantz also covers for CBS. Nantz concluded by affirming the enduring nature of their friendship, saying, "We’ll be friends forever."