Jerry Jones supports Antonio Ramiro Romo
Antonio Ramiro Romo, known as Tony, officially left CBS Sports on October 2, 2026, after nine seasons as an NFL game analyst. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly defended his former quarterback five days later.
Jones discussed the departure during his October 7 appearance on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan. His remarks expressed continued confidence in Romo’s personal character and professional future following the conclusion of his CBS tenure.
Jerry Jones values his friendship with Romo
Jerry Jones described Tony Romo as one of his most valued personal relationships during his October 7 radio appearance. The Cowboys owner also recalled his pride in watching the former quarterback become an NFL broadcaster.
Jerry Jones praised Romo during his 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech in Canton, Ohio. He highlighted the former quarterback’s considerable responsibility in Dallas, where he made 127 regular-season starts before his retirement.
Jerry Jones recognizes Romo’s mistakes
Jerry Jones acknowledged Tony Romo’s recent personal mistakes during his discussion with 105.3 The Fan. He also said the former quarterback understood that certain parts of his personal life required changes and closer ongoing attention.
The Cowboys owner referred to errors from his own life while discussing personal accountability. Romo had issued a public statement on September 1 openly accepting responsibility for his conduct and describing a commitment to improvement.
Jerry Jones sees another broadcasting chance
Jerry Jones said Tony Romo was just getting started when asked about his career following CBS’s decision. The Dallas owner praised his former player’s broadcasting abilities and expressed confidence that more professional opportunities lay ahead.
Jones did not identify another television position or announce negotiations with a different network. Following the October departure, Romo had not publicly confirmed a new broadcasting agreement or a specific date for returning to work.
Tony Romo’s July traffic stop
Tony Romo was stopped by Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputies on July 23, 2026, while traveling south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. Authorities reported improper passing near an entrance ramp as the initial reason for intervention.
Deputies transported Romo from the bridge to the county jail, where they conducted sobriety tests and arrested him on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. The case later proceeded in Milwaukee County court, while public records and released body-camera footage provided further details.
Tony Romo entered a September plea
Tony Romo entered a no-contest plea through his attorney on September 1, 2026, following the Wisconsin traffic case. Milwaukee County court records documented a six-month revocation of his driving privileges as part of the resolution.
Romo released a public apology that day and acknowledged responsibility for his decisions. He also discussed lasting physical problems from football and said medical professionals were helping him address his health and make personal changes.
CBS Sports placed Romo on leave in July
CBS Sports placed Tony Romo on indefinite leave on July 31, 2026, shortly before the NFL regular season. The decision required changes to the network’s established lead game announcing team ahead of the opening weekend.
Former Houston Texans player J.J. Watt was selected to fill Romo’s analyst position alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. At that stage, CBS described the arrangement as temporary and had not announced a permanent departure.
CBS Sports confirmed the October split
CBS Sports announced on October 2 that the network and Tony Romo mutually agreed to part ways. Its public statement thanked the former Dallas quarterback for nine years of NFL coverage and offered good wishes.
The network also confirmed that its other broadcasting crews would remain unchanged. Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker, and Evan Washburn continued as a separate team, preserving the existing lineup beyond the lead group for NFL games.
Tony Romo began his CBS career in 2017
Tony Romo joined CBS Sports in April 2017 after retiring from professional football. He replaced Phil Simms as lead NFL game analyst and began working with experienced national broadcaster Jim Nantz during that same year.
His first regular-season assignment featured the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans in September 2017. Romo attracted immediate attention by anticipating plays before the snap, drawing on his experience reading opposing defenses as a starting quarterback.
Tony Romo’s CBS contract reached $180 million
Tony Romo signed a reported 10-year agreement worth approximately $180 million with CBS in 2020. The contract followed his successful transition into television and placed him among the highest-paid NFL game analysts at that time.
About four years and $72 million reportedly remained when the partnership ended in October 2026. Industry coverage described a negotiated financial settlement, although neither side publicly disclosed the exact amount of any final payment involved.
Fun fact: In 2007, Tony Romo ran roughly 65 yards after a bad snap against the Rams, but the official statistics credited him with just four yards.
J.J. Watt leads the CBS broadcast team
J.J. Watt will remain CBS’s lead NFL game analyst for the rest of the 2026 season. The former defensive star works with Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson after his promotion to Romo’s position.
Watt joined the network’s game announcing lineup in 2025 after earning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. A CBS late-afternoon broadcast window in Week 4 attracted 28.448 million viewers across multiple televised games.
Tony Romo’s Dallas career included records
Tony Romo recorded 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdown passes during 156 regular-season appearances for the Dallas Cowboys. He earned four Pro Bowl selections and completed 65.3% of his throws across his professional football career.
Before joining Dallas as an undrafted player in 2003, Romo starred at Eastern Illinois. He won the 2002 Walter Payton Award for his performance and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
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Tony Romo has not named his next role
Tony Romo said in his October 2 departure statement that he planned to take a break and focus on family and health. He thanked former colleagues, NFL supporters, and viewers as he considered his next opportunity.
Romo also competed in a three-round Korn Ferry Tour golf pre-qualifier in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Officials disqualified him on October 2 for an incorrect scorecard, and his performance would not have qualified for advancement regardless.
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Do you agree with Jerry Jones that Tony Romo deserves another chance in NFL broadcasting, or was CBS right to move on? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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