For NFL fans, the voice of Tony Romo has become a dependable aspect of the season. Following his retirement in 2017, he immediately became a lead voice for CBS Sports and has maintained the position for nearly a decade.
However, his recent run-in with the law has now put that status into question. Veteran analyst Colin Cowherd believes Romo’s position at the network is no longer guaranteed following the immediate fallout from the case.
Colin Cowherd Weighs In on Tony Romo’s CBS Future
At the time of his hiring in 2017, there was a ton of controversy about him jumping over some industry veterans and getting the lead role to begin his career. But his greatness in the booth was hard to deny.
From predicting defensive formations to offensive play calls, he brought a level of excitement and enthusiasm that was hard not to be swayed by. As a result, he signed a 10-year contract with CBS in 2020, keeping him in the role at least until 2030.
But his recent arrest has put that role in jeopardy. And Cowherd isn’t sure the situation has a quick fix because he doesn’t think the network views him as a great investment anymore moving forward.
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“Tony Romo, if he was as good as many of the other guys, his company would support him greatly,” Cowherd said. “Al Michaels got a DUI. There was no talk about losing his job. Romo is highly compensated; kind of feels like, sometimes, as a quarterback and a broadcaster, he’s kind of ad-libbing when you have one game a week to do, and Jim Nantz does the majority of the talking.”
Explaining his stance, the analyst added, “Obviously, let’s not minimize, you know, drinking and having a cocktail in a car. That’s bad. Nobody’s saying it’s not. But I do think there is something about those situations where, when you’re vulnerable — Vrabel wasn’t; Romo is — it does change outcomes potentially.”
Arrested on an operating while intoxicated charge on July 23, 2026, Romo has a court date scheduled for Sept. 21 this year.
His citations included unsafe passing, open container violation, and a refusal to undergo a chemical intoxication test.
As a result, he was placed on indefinite leave by CBS, with no real return date in sight. In his absence, J.J. Watt will fill his place alongside Nantz.
It remains to be seen whether the situation is resolved and he returns to his usual seat in the booth. But for the time being, the growing speculation might put his future at the network in jeopardy.
