Tony Romo did not attend CBS Sports’ annual NFL media day in Manhattan on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The Athletic reported that his leave barred him from attending the event.
CBS placed Romo on leave July 31 following his July 23 arrest in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. His absence put his status at CBS at the center of coverage surrounding the network’s preseason media event. This article looks at the arrest, CBS’s response, and what could come next for Romo’s broadcasting career.
A media day highlights an unexpected absence
CBS held its annual NFL media day in New York on Aug. 11 as the network prepared for the 2026 season. Romo, CBS’s lead NFL analyst before his leave, was absent from the event.
The Athletic reported that Romo’s leave barred him from attending, while CBS confirmed that he remains on leave. At the event, CBS Sports president David Berson said the network was still assessing Romo’s future and had no timetable or final decision. Questions about Romo became a major focus of coverage surrounding CBS’s preseason event.
The arrest that changed everything
Romo was stopped around 6 p.m. on July 23 while driving south on Interstate 43 near downtown Milwaukee. Authorities said the stop involved unsafe passing and lane-deviation concerns. He was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated following field sobriety testing.
Authorities later found an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage on the passenger side of his vehicle during an inventory. Romo received citations for operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing, and possession of an open container in a moving vehicle.
Body-camera footage showed Romo initially saying he had not been drinking and later saying he had consumed one Corona. He refused a preliminary breath test and a blood test. A warrant for a blood sample and chemical analysis was subsequently issued, and court records also show a citation for refusing an intoxication test.
What happened during the Milwaukee traffic stop
Romo’s July 23 traffic stop drew widespread attention after authorities released body-camera footage of the encounter. Deputies stopped him on southbound Interstate 43 near downtown Milwaukee after he was alleged to have been unsafe passing and lane deviation, then arrested him on suspicion of operating while intoxicated following field sobriety testing.
Romo received citations for operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing, and possession of an open container in a moving vehicle. Wisconsin generally treats a first-offense OWI as a civil infraction rather than a criminal offense.
A court date is scheduled for Sept. 21. CBS 58 reported that Romo is not required to appear in person for that proceeding.
CBS’s response signals a cautious approach
CBS Sports placed Romo on leave on July 31, saying he would remain away from his role until further notice. The announcement left his return date open-ended while the network assessed the situation.
At CBS’s Aug. 11 NFL media event, CBS Sports president David Berson described Romo’s situation as evolving and said the network had no timetable or final decision regarding his future.
Berson also said CBS had to consider the impact on its image and brand and wanted attention focused on its NFL presentation rather than Romo’s legal situation. CBS has not announced whether or when Romo will return.
J.J. Watt steps into a bigger role
J.J. Watt will work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on CBS Sports’ lead NFL broadcast team during Tony Romo’s absence. Their first scheduled regular-season game together is Sept. 13, when the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers.
Watt joined CBS in 2023 and spent 2 seasons as a studio analyst on “The NFL Today.” He moved into the booth for the 2025 season as the analyst on CBS’s No. 2 crew alongside play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle before being elevated to the lead team this year.
The promotion gives Watt a significantly larger role while CBS determines Romo’s future. Watt brings real playing experience along with a fresh broadcasting voice to viewers. Fans will now see him in a much bigger role starting this fall.
Fun fact: Romo went undrafted in 2003. When he retired in 2017, his career passer rating of 97.1 ranked fourth in NFL history.
Romo’s legal timeline remains unresolved
Romo’s next court date is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Wisconsin. CBS 58 reported that he is not required to appear in person for that proceeding. As of Aug. 12, no final disposition of the OWI matter has been reported.
A first-offense OWI in Wisconsin is generally treated as a civil offense rather than a criminal charge. Romo also withdrew from the Texas State Open golf tournament following his arrest.
His professional status remains unresolved as well. CBS Sports president David Berson said Aug. 11 that the network is still assessing the situation and has no timetable or final decision on Romo’s future.
The refusal citation adds another legal issue
Court records show Romo was cited for refusing an intoxication test after his arrest. Reporting on the body-camera footage says he declined both a preliminary breath test and a requested blood test.
Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation says refusing a requested chemical test can trigger a notice of intent to revoke driving privileges, and authorities may seek a warrant for a blood draw. A warrant for Romo’s blood sample and chemical analysis was subsequently issued.
The refusal citation is separate from the reported citations for operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing, and possession of an open container in a moving vehicle. Romo’s next scheduled court date remains Sept. 21.
What comes next for Romo’s broadcast career
Romo’s long-term future at CBS remains unresolved. Earlier reporting cited unnamed CBS sources who did not expect the arrest to cost him his job, including one executive who said the incident was not expected to get him fired.
CBS’s latest public position is less definitive. On Aug. 11, CBS Sports president David Berson said the situation remained evolving and that there was no timetable or final decision on Romo’s future. J.J. Watt will work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on the lead NFL team during Romo’s absence.
Reuters reported that Romo is due in court on Sept. 21 and likely would not return to CBS before then if the network retains him. For now, CBS has not announced a return date or a final employment decision.
Little-known fact: Eastern Illinois retired Romo’s No. 17 on Oct. 17, 2009, making him the first EIU football player to have his number retired.
TL;DR
- Tony Romo did not attend CBS’s NFL media day in Manhattan on Aug. 11.
- CBS Sports placed him on leave July 31 following his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while intoxicated.
- Authorities issued citations for operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing, and possession of an open container in a moving vehicle. Court records also show a refusal citation.
- J.J. Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on CBS’s lead NFL team during Romo’s absence.
- Romo has a Sept. 21 court date and is not required to appear in person, according to CBS 58.
- CBS Sports says it has no timetable or final decision on Romo’s future.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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