Tony Romo 'won't be back' at CBS as 'consensus' reached among sports media executives
Tony Romo 'won't be back' at CBS as 'consensus' reached among sports media executives
Joseph McBride Fri, August 7, 2026 at 7:09 PM UTC
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Tony Romo isn't expected to return to CBS, according to sports media executives -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
CBS Sports placed Tony Romo on an indefinite leave of absence following his arrest in Wisconsin for suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), and it's been claimed that he won't return to the network.
Romo was arrested on July 23 on suspicion of his first-offense OWI, but was booked and later released. The former NFL star is due in court on Sept. 21, two weeks after the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt has replaced Romo until further notice, allowing him time to navigate his arrest and the public fallout before continuing with his media career. However, there is reportedly a consensus that Romo won’t return to CBS. It comes after Romo was seen arguing with a female cop over a sobriety test in the OWI arrest bodycam footage.
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That's according to Puck News' John Ourand, who claims that several sports media executives don't expect Romo to return to his lead color commentator duties with the network. CBS Sports has its annual NFL preview press gathering in New York next week, where the Romo situation is expected to be addressed.
CBS has remained quiet on the situation, but it remains to be seen whether they will reinstate Romo after his court hearing. While the network has several long-term replacement options, like Watt, Romo is still under contract and owed $72 million over the next four years.
The eventual decision will also be determined by other factors, including whether Romo's reputation has been damaged. Sponsors will also play a role, handing CBS a difficult decision.
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Police released 40 minutes of bodycam footage as Romo was arrested -Credit:TMZ
Regardless of the outcome, Romo will be kept away from the CBS media seminar in New York and won't be in the booth to call the Week 1 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Romo is also scheduled to fly to Brazil for the international game in Week 3, six days after his court date.
However, despite speculation that Romo's CBS career could be in limbo, a source close to the network told the Daily Mail that plans are in place before a final decision is made on Romo's future. "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 source said.
"After that, the expectation is that he'll address the situation publicly, apologize, and begin moving forward with his career."
Romo's mugshot was released after he was booked in Milwaukee -Credit:Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
"It's a bit of a rock-and-a-hard-place situation with Tony right now," the source added. "So many people at the network genuinely like him.
"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.
"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."
Meanwhile, a Mike Tomlin verdict has been reached after the ex-Pittsburgh Steelers head coach's on-air NBC debut.
Source: “AOL General News”
