Tony Romo dealt setback as he fights to save lucrative CBS NFL job after OWI arrest
Tony Romo dealt setback as he fights to save lucrative CBS NFL job after OWI arrest
Joseph McBride Sun, August 2, 2026 at 2:03 AM UTC
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Tony Romo's future at CBS is uncertain after his OWI arrest (Image: John Lamparski, WireImagevia Getty Images)
CBS Sports has granted Tony Romo time to address his arrest and the ensuing public scrutiny before he resumes his broadcasting duties, following the network's decision to place him on leave. It could prove difficult for Romo to reclaim his No. 1 analyst job, though, with the recently released bodycam footage reportedly complicating his situation.
Romo, a former NFL quarterback turned CBS analyst, was taken into custody in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating while under the influence. Authorities subsequently released police bodycam footage of Romo's arrest, showing him unable to successfully complete field sobriety tests while maintaining he hadn't consumed any alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
The arrest, the public release of the video, and the pending court proceedings prompted CBS to place him on leave, meaning he'll be absent for the kickoff of the 2026 NFL season, requiring the network to secure his replacement. CBS remains obligated to pay Romo $72 million across the next four years, though the network reportedly has a hypothetical plan in place.
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An insider familiar with CBS told the Daily Mail that the network has established protocols before reaching a final determination on Romo's status. "For now, the plan is to let the legal process play out and give Tony a few weeks to deal with everything on that front," the insider revealed.
"After that, the expectation is that he'll address the situation publicly, apologize, and begin moving forward with his career." Romo is under contract for another four years, though it's uncertain whether he'll return to broadcasting on CBS in the same role. According to The Athletic, Romo faces an uphill battle to reclaim his position, and he'll "have to make quite a case to get his top job back" - especially with the ex-quarterback receiving a fair share of criticism for his commentary in past years.
Romo was arrested in Wisconsin last week (Image: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office)
The bodycam footage from his arrest, which rapidly spread on social media earlier this week, is believed to have dealt Romo another setback in his efforts to get back in the booth.
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"It's a bit of a rock-and-a-hard-place situation with Tony right now," the source told the Mail. "So many people at the network genuinely like him, and the initial belief was that he could work through the legal process, resolve everything in court, and return for the season with the controversy eventually fading into the background.
"However, the release of the bodycam footage changed the conversation and renewed calls for Tony to face some form of punishment. The fact that he remained respectful and cooperative throughout the interaction certainly works in his favor, but it also put CBS in a difficult position."
CBS is also said to be facing a moral decision, with executives contemplating whether to set a precedent following Romo's incident. Although Romo is regarded as one of the premier NFL commentators on television, CBS is reportedly reluctant to demonstrate that its biggest stars are immune to punishment.
"If another on-air personality were to find themselves in a similar situation, they would need to show they apply the same standards across the board and aren't giving preferential treatment," the source added.
For the time being, Romo has been replaced with former NFL star JJ Watt, who will join Jim Nantz on CBS' top NFL broadcast team. Romo is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 21, two weeks following the start of the NFL season. Romo has already been excluded from the annual CBS preseason media seminar, one of three critical dates on his calendar for the season's opening.
Romo was slated to provide commentary for the Week 1 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. The analyst was also anticipated to travel to Brazil in Week 3, when the Dallas Cowboys take on the Baltimore Ravens. That game occurs six days following Romo's court appearance.
Romo is expected to miss both of those games.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
