Tony Romo Out at CBS, Leaving Booth Open for Potential Replacements
Following Romo's departure, CBS is reportedly considering veteran broadcasters Troy Aikman and Greg Olsen as potential successors for Jim Nantz's broadcast booth.
CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways, the network announced Friday. Romo had been on indefinite leave since his July arrest on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Industry sources had previously indicated that CBS was looking to move on from Romo.
"CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways," the network stated. "We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward."
This development reshapes the broadcast landscape for NFL games on CBS, particularly the crucial role of lead analyst alongside veteran announcer Jim Nantz. CBS is set to broadcast its next Super Bowl in 2028, a significant event that will be the first under the new ownership of Skydance.
Following Romo's suspension, J.J. Watt was elevated from CBS's No. 2 broadcast team to partner with Nantz. Reviews of Watt's performance have been mixed, but he is currently slated to remain Nantz's color analyst. However, his long-term role may depend on the availability of other prominent figures in sports broadcasting.
The contracts for both Troy Aikman, currently with ESPN, and Greg Olsen, with Fox, are set to expire after the upcoming Super Bowl in February. Aikman, who will call that game with Joe Buck for ESPN/ABC, has not yet reached a contract extension with ESPN, despite Buck securing his own deal. Aikman is widely regarded as a premier NFL game analyst, and CBS could potentially offer him a contract exceeding $25 million annually.
Olsen, 41, also brings valuable Super Bowl broadcasting experience, having called Super Bowl LVII for Fox. He has demonstrated an ability to quickly build chemistry with various play-by-play partners throughout his broadcasting career. ESPN could also be a landing spot for Olsen if a deal with Aikman does not materialize.
Watt's primary advantage is his established rapport with Nantz after a full season together. However, the transition for Aikman or Olsen to a new play-by-play partner is considered manageable, though it could present a factor in CBS's decision-making.
Should neither Aikman nor Olsen join CBS or re-sign with ESPN, Netflix is also positioned as a potential contender for their services as the streaming platform expands its NFL coverage. Amazon has reportedly retained Kirk Herbstreit as its lead NFL color analyst.