Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo has become one of the most recognizable voices in NFL media since transitioning from the field to the broadcast booth. However, his recent OWI arrest has cast uncertainty over his future as a lead analyst for CBS Sports, with one NFL legend now hoping that Romo’s mistake does not ultimately cost him his job.
NFL Legend Sends Powerful Message to CBS Over Tony Romo’s Future
Romo was pulled over by law enforcement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last month as officers cited the former quarterback on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He reportedly failed field sobriety tests and was cited for having an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle.
CBS Sports officially placed Romo on indefinite leave “until further notice” after the incident. Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt was subsequently selected to fill Romo’s spot on CBS’s No. 1 NFL broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
Former NFL star Mark Schlereth recently spoke in support of the veteran broadcaster on his “The Stinkin’ Truth” podcast, stating that Romo should have the opportunity to pick up the pieces of his career after the OWI arrest.
“Everybody deserves an opportunity to come back,” Schlereth said. “For me, I look at Tony Romo, and what he’s done over the course of his career as a player, what he’s done in the broadcast booth, the last couple of years notwithstanding, that guy became the talk of the NFL.
“If I’m CBS, I would allow him, after whatever punishment they deem necessary, maybe it’s a game or two suspension, I think I would have him in the booth with Jim Nantz.”
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Romo burst onto the NFL broadcasting scene in 2017 as CBS’s prominent quarterback analyst and quickly became one of the most talked-about voices in football media. That early success eventually led CBS to hand Romo a historic contract extension in 2020, reportedly worth $18 million per year.
However, Schlereth later acknowledged that Romo’s lucrative contract could complicate the situation for CBS, particularly if the network decides it no longer wants him on its broadcast team.
“I don’t know what their plans are. Obviously, they’ve got a ton of money invested in him. All these TV contracts have these clauses, call it a morality clause, just like an NFL contract; I’m sure there’s some provision in there that will give them some flexibility to get out of that contract if CBS wants out.”
Romo reportedly has four years remaining on his CBS agreement, with approximately $72 million reportedly left on the contract. However, CBS has yet to provide a specific timeline for the former quarterback’s indefinite leave.
Even before the arrest, there were questions about whether CBS planned to retain Romo as its lead NFL analyst beyond the current season. The latest development has raised the possibility that his lengthy run with the network could be coming to an unexpected end.
For now, Romo’s broadcasting future remains uncertain. His court appearance is scheduled for September 21, 2026.
