CBS Sports president David Berson said there is ‘no timetable’ on Tony Romo’s return as he announced changes to its NFL lineup for Week 1.
The network has confirmed that Ross Tucker will step up to its No.2 crew, replacing J.J. Watt alongside Ian Eagle. The move comes with Watt promoted to partner Jim Nantz, filling the void left by Romo after his recent OWI arrest.
The $18m-a-year quarterback has been placed on leave ‘until further notice’ since he was stopped by authorities in Wisconsin last month and humiliating police bodycam footage was released.
Romo was shown failing multiple sobriety tests in the footage and a CBS spokesperson said: ‘Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice.’
With huge uncertainty surrounding his future, Romo was absent from CBS Sports’ media day in New York on Tuesday to preview the new NFL season.
But it was announced that Tucker will climb up the ranks, having been a regular part of the CBS broadcasting rotation since 2023, while CBS Sports boss Berson provided a non-committal update on the Romo situation.
Tony Romo is on indefinite leave from CBS Sports, who say there is ‘no timetable’ on his return
Romo was arrested and charged with OWI last month after a golf tournament in Wisconsin
Bodycam footage was released showing Romo being stopped by police in Milwaukee
‘I hope you can respect and appreciate this is a personal matter, and a legal one for Tony. So I can’t speak to that aspect. But I can say this is an evolving situation. Therefore, we’re still assessing,’ Berson said at the press conference.
‘There’s no timetable or final decision at this time. Since it continues to evolve, and we’re on the eve of the season, I felt it was very important that our team, the many, many people who work on the NFL on CBS, have certainty and direction so we can definitively plan.
‘In making this decision, we had to consider the impact on our image and our brand. That’s very important to us. Whether the games, marketing, PR, social, the focus should be – and needs to be – on our presentation and this great product and not on any other factors.
‘Fortunately, we have a very deep bench. I’m very proud of the way everybody is stepping up and responding. As you know, J.J. will join Jim and Tracy as the lead team in Tony’s absence. They are already knee-deep in planning. I have every confidence they’ll be great.’
Reports had suggested Tucker was being lined up for an analyst role in CBS’ fourth booth after Jason McCourty left to return to ESPN and Charles Davis headed to college football full-time as the network’s lead Big Ten analyst.
But with Romo’s arrest forcing a short-term reshuffle before the new NFL season begins on September 9, the 47-year-old former offensive lineman has been given a chance to impress.
CBS’ slate of games begins on Sunday, September 13 with the network broadcasting five games – the Ravens at Colts, Bills at Texans and Browns at Jaguars in the early window then the Cardinals at Chargers and Packers at Vikings in the afternoon slate.
It remains unclear what Romo’s future holds with CBS beyond the immediate future. A recent report claimed it is unlikely he will ever return to the network, while longtime analyst Colin Cowherd said tension between the two parties has been building ever since he signed his lucrative 10-year, $180 million deal in 2020.
Romo is facing a court hearing on September 21 but does not have to attend in person
J.J. Watt is filling in Romo’s role as CBS Sports’ analyst on it’s top crew alongside Jim Nantz
In an appearance on the ‘House of Strauss’ podcast, Cowherd said: ‘When you go into contract negotiations, there was a moment in time that Tony Romo had tremendous leverage over CBS. And he squeezed them for every nickel.
‘Even if you have leverage, it will create resentment somewhere upstairs. And I’ve always thought with the CBS execs, they don’t defend him quite as quickly. Or, when this recent story came out, reportedly, for the first two days nobody from CBS contacted him.
‘That’s what I heard from somebody who would know. And I thought, is there resentment upstairs? Because he had them. He had them dead to rights, and he got every penny he wanted.’
Romo is due back in court on September 21 but does not have to attend in person. His OWI charge carries a $1,066 fine on top of the $235 penalty he received for his moving violation.
Greg Olsen, who was replaced by Tom Brady at Fox and relegated to the No.2 booth, has been touted as a potential replacement for Romo if he leaves.
Per Varsity, Olsen has a clause in his Fox contract enabling him to walk away if he is offered the top spot at another network.
