Tony Romo Steps Away from CBS Broadcast Booth Following OWI Arrest
Former Cowboys quarterback announces departure from broadcasting to focus on health and family.
Tony Romo has announced he is stepping away from CBS Sports, stating he will take a break to focus on his health and family following an operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrest earlier this year. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was placed on indefinite leave by CBS Sports after the July 23 arrest in Milwaukee.
Romo, who earned $18 million annually with CBS, was replaced as the network's lead color commentator by NFL veteran J.J. Watt. Romo had been broadcasting alongside Jim Nantz for the initial weeks of the NFL season.
In September, Romo reached a plea deal with Wisconsin prosecutors. The agreement came two months after he was pulled over in his Jeep near Milwaukee. Bodycam footage of Romo during sobriety tests subsequently circulated online. The plea deal mandates that Romo will face a jail sentence if convicted of another OWI-related offense within the next 10 years. He also agreed to install an ignition interlock device in all his vehicles, pay a fine exceeding $700, and had his driver's license revoked for six months. He is also required to complete an alcohol assessment program.
In addition to the initial OWI charge, Romo faced citations for a first-offense OWI, unsafe passing on the right, and possessing open intoxicants in his vehicle. In exchange for adhering to the plea deal conditions, prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining citations.
Romo previously spoke about his struggles with pain medication and alcohol dependency, taking accountability for the incident. "Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life," Romo said in a statement. "After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close to the game through broadcasting. Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better. This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me. This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely."
His spokesperson stated on Friday, "I'm proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years. I approached my role as a game analyst the way I've approached everything in my life–with a desire to win and be the best that I can be. I'm going to use this time to take a break, something I've never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity. I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans."