Tony Romo’s former CBS Sports partner Jim Nantz believes the ex-Dallas Cowboys star will return to analyzing NFL games in the future.
Romo and the network officially parted ways on October 2, a month after he pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He had been on leave since his July 23 arrest in Wisconsin.
Nantz, who has been joined by NFL legend JJ Watt in the booth this season in place of Romo, paid tribute to his former colleague and backed him to make a return in the future.
‘I think unquestionably he will work again,’ Nantz said on the Traina Thoughts podcast.
‘I don’t know if it’s calling games or being in studio, but he’s got a lot of talent. He’s got a lot of people who like him, and he’s a star. He’s got a personality that’s different, and that’s a good thing.
‘I don’t know where Tony’s head is on that right now, so I’m not going to speculate, but I think you’re asking me “will he ever work again in the business?” I think there will be plenty of opportunity for that, because he’s got game.’
Jim Nantz believes Tony Romo will return to NFL broadcasting after he stepped away from CBS
The ex-Cowboy quit CBS and vowed to step away from the spotlight following his OWI arrest
Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million contract back in 2020 while his stock was sky-high just three years after retiring from the NFL and heading straight into the booth.
But after his arrest, the subsequent release of humiliating bodycam footage and being replaced by Watt for the start of the season, the 46-year-old left his role permanently earlier this month.
Despite that, Romo reportedly received a hefty chunk of the $72 million remaining on his massive CBS Sports deal after he quit.
According to The Athletic, Romo ‘reached a financial settlement’ with CBS before the announcement. It is claimed Romo ‘will likely be paid a good portion’ of the remainder of his contract after the two parties avoided going to court.
Romo vowed to step away from the spotlight to ‘focus on my health and family’ while sources close to Romo and CBS Sports have shed light on what might come next for the former Cowboys quarterback.
On October 2, Romo told The Daily Mail in a statement: ‘I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years.
‘I approached my role as a game analyst the way I’ve approached everything in my life–with a desire to win and be the best that I can be.
‘I’m going to use this time to take a break, something I’ve never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity.
‘I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans.’
Romo had been on indefinite leave at CBS since his OWI arrest in July in his native Wisconsin
The retired quarterback was arrested after being pulled over in Milwaukee on July 23
Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson, struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Wisconsin back in September, two months after he was pulled over in his Jeep after playing in a golf tournament near Milwaukee and placed on indefinite leave by CBS.
Humiliating bodycam footage of him performing poorly in sobriety tests quickly went viral in the weeks after, and he was sidelined indefinitely by CBS before the NFL season got underway.
One of the conditions of his plea deal is that he will have to spend time in jail if he is found guilty of another OWI-related offense within the next 10 years.
Another drinking-and-driving conviction in the next decade will lead to a ‘mandatory jail sentence’ for Romo. He also agreed to have an ignition interlock device placed on all of his vehicles.
Romo was also fined more than $700 and his driver’s license was revoked for six months. He also vowed to complete an alcohol assessment program.
In addition to the original OWI charge, Romo was hit with first-offense OWI, unsafe passing on the right side, and possessing open intoxicants inside his vehicle.
In exchange for agreeing to the plea deal’s conditions, prosecutors have agreed to drop all other citations.
Last month, Romo candidly opened up on his struggles with pain medication and alcohol dependency and took accountability for the incident.
Romo, pictured with wife Candice, vowed to step away to ‘focus on my health and family’
‘Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life,’ he said in a statement.
‘I played for more than 20 years, including 14 in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close to the game through broadcasting.
‘Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better.
‘This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me.
‘This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely.’
