Tony Romo was playing golf when news broke of CBS split

Former NFL star Tony Romo was competing in a PGA Tour Q-School event in Oklahoma when news broke on Friday morning of his official exit from CBS Sports. Romo, who was tied for 46th on the leaderboard and needed to finish in the top 37 to advance, was reportedly in the midst of his golf round when the announcement was made.

Romo has been an avid amateur golfer for years, winning the celebrity American Century Championship in 2018. His participation in the Q-School event marks a significant step in his pursuit of professional golf.

The departure from CBS follows an indefinite leave of absence taken after an OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) arrest on July 23 in Wisconsin. Romo was leaving a golf course when the incident occurred. He subsequently pleaded no contest to the OWI charge, with three other charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Romo released a statement last month acknowledging an "over-reliance on alcohol" stemming from multiple back surgeries he underwent during his NFL career.

Romo joined CBS as a football analyst after retiring from the NFL in 2017. He was under a 10-year, $180 million contract extension signed in 2020 at the time of his arrest. Reports indicate he is expected to receive a substantial portion of the remaining $72 million on his deal from the network.

Following Romo's departure, J.J. Watt is expected to serve as CBS's primary analyst alongside Jim Nantz for the remainder of the season.