The Dallas Cowboys don’t often play on CBS, and their game on Sunday in Brazil was not just a trial run for more NFL regular-season games in Rio but the network’s unintentional extended look at its potential replacement for analyst Tony Romo.
The more J.J. Watt works, the more it looks like Romo’s time with CBS is over. At least they’re both from Wisconsin.
The former University of Wisconsin and Houston Texans star defensive end fell into one of the most coveted jobs in sports broadcasting over the summer when the ex-Cowboys quarterback was arrested on July 23 on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
He was basically put on leave by CBS, and replaced by Watt, who was hired by the network in 2025 as its No. 2 NFL game analyst.
The longer this Romo hiatus goes, it does not sound like he will return to the network. If he does leave CBS, it would conclude a tenure that featured one of the most successful first years ever for a sports color commentator, to a sad finish.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (left) eludes the grasp of Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and throws a 43-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terrance Williams in the third quarter of the Cowboys’ 20-17 overtime victory on Oct. 5, 2014, at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington. Rodger Mallison FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM Tony Romo’s rise as a CBS star led to record money
According to people familiar with this situation, Romo’s uncertain future as CBS’ top NFL analyst has more to do with his contract than it does his arrest. In February 2020, Romo signed a multiyear contact with CBS that pays him $17 million a season.
Some CBS executive knows Watt makes a lot less, and the quality of its biggest NFL broadcasts, and the ratings, don’t suffer at all whether it’s Romo, Watt or a beagle in the booth.
After Romo’s playing career ended in 2016, CBS immediately put him next to longtime play-by-play man Jim Nantz, which meant pushing former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms out of the job. The decision immediately drew criticism because Romo had zero experience calling games.
Romo was a natural. He’s funny, bright, a good talker, and because he was fresh out of the locker room, his insights into the game were solid additions.
His ability to accurately predict plays irritated some traditional play-by-play voices, such as Brent Musburger, but Romo the analyst was a viral hit. His accuracy was uncanny.
As the 2017 season wore on, ESPN was frustrated with the quality of its Monday Night Football telecasts, and looking for new color analyst. After the season ended, it offered Romo’s former Cowboys teammate, tight end Jason Witten, to become its top NFL game color commentator.
ESPN hoped that Witten would take to the booth like Romo, but Witten’s time with ESPN in 2018 was a dud. After one year in the booth, Witten unretired and played two more seasons in the NFL.
Romo and his agent had real leverage; they exercised it for maximum money from CBS, and a record deal. A deal that now will likely be used against him to end his time with the network.
Tony Romo’s unexpected descent
As Romo’s broadcasting career wore on, his popularity dropped. The adulation he once enjoyed turned into mockery, and frustration.
The insight was replaced by enthusiasm that didn’t sound genuine. He fell into a common path that many former players who go to the booth follow: They don’t do their homework, and they get bored by the game because they’re not playing in it.
He often sounded like a man who’d rather be on a golf course, but he had an impossible job to quit because the “work” hours are so favorable, and the money is obscene.
CBS executives found themselves defending Romo’s place in the booth, and last year it did sound like he put more effort into preparing for a broadcast. Maybe he didn’t. Romo is so bright he can score a high B on a test without studying for it.
In response to CBS putting him on leave, Romo issued a statement that said he had become dependent on pain medication, and his efforts to “get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol,” Romo wrote in his statement.
Romo had multiple surgeries on his back during his 13-year NFL career. He is also a glorified golf addict, a sport that is horrible for a person’s back. He would not be the first person to use drinking to bury pain.
He’s a smart guy. He wisely has become invisible since his arrest, and the predictable release of the video of the incident. According to reports, he told the CBS executives immediately about the incident so they heard it from him first. In these situations, that matters.
In his place is J.J. Watt, a charismatic guy who works well next to Nantz, a broadcaster so smooth and talented he can make most pictures look good.
Sunday was the rare chance for CBS to broadcast a Cowboys game, and while the scene was more about the league expanding its footprint in South America, it also felt like an end to Tony Romo’s time with the network.
Game schedule dates, times, locations Sept. 22 New York Mets 6, Rangers 3 Sept. 23 New York Mets 7, Rangers 2 Sept. 24 Rangers 3, New York Mets 1 Sept. 25 Minnesota 10, Rangers 2 Sept. 26 Rangers 6, Minnesota 2 Sept. 27 Minnesota 6, Texas 4 Season complete Sept. 17 Wings 97, Los Angeles 77 Sept. 19 Wings 87, Phoenix 82 Sept. 21 Phoenix 87, Wings 86 Sept. 23 Wings 103, Seattle 91 WNBA playoffs First-round series (best-of-3; Golden State leads 1-0) Game 1: Sept. 27 Golden State 104, Wings 80 Game 2: Sept. 30 vs. Golden State, 8 p.m., ESPN Game 3 (if necessary): Oct. 2 at Golden State, TBD Sept. 13 N.Y. Giants 28, Cowboys 20 Sept. 20 Cowboys 37, Washington 20 Sept. 27 Baltimore 34, Cowboys 31 Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA Aug. 29 North Carolina 15, TCU 10 Sept. 12 TCU 63, Grambling State 7 Sept. 19 TCU 31, Arkansas State 7 Sept. 26 Central Florida 21, TCU 13 Oct. 3 vs. BYU, 6 p.m., ESPN Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN Sept. 5 Indiana 52, North Texas 16 Sept. 12 North Texas 44, UNLV 6 Sept. 19 Texas State 49, North Texas 35 Sept. 26 North Texas 63, Houston Christian 14 Oct. 1 at Tulsa, 8 p.m., ESPN Oct. 10 vs. Charlotte, TBA Oct. 24 at Navy, 2:30 p.m. CBSSN Oct. 29 vs. Florida Atlantic, 6:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2 Nov. 7 vs. Rice, TBA Nov. 14 at UTSA, TBA Nov. 21 at Tulane, TBA Nov. 28 vs. UAB, TBA All home games at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium Aug. 27 Central Oklahoma 59, Texas Wesleyan 7 Sept. 5 McNeese State 52, Texas Wesleyan 0 Sept. 12 Texas Wesleyan 56, Texas College 20 Sept. 26 Texas Wesleyan 41, Nelson 16 Oct. 3 at Arkansas Baptist, 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at Louisiana Christian, 2 p.m. Oct. 17 vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at Langston, 2 p.m. Oct. 31 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at Ottawa (Arizona), 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at Wayland Baptist, 2 p.m. Sept. 5 FC Dallas 4, Kansas City 3 Sept. 9 FC Dallas 2, Minnesota 1 Sept. 12 FC Dallas 2, Portland 1 Sept. 19 FC Dallas 0, Austin 0 Sept. 26 FC Dallas 1, LAFC 0 Oct. 10 at Charlotte, 6:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 14 vs. Seattle, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 17 at Houston, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 24 vs. San Jose, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 28 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 1-3 Dirt Track Championship Oct. 2-3 Goodguys Lone Star Nationals Oct. 14 Tony Stewart Bowling Tournament Oct. 16-17 High Limit Racing Championship Oct. 29-31 POWRi Racing
This story was originally published September 27, 2026 at 8:33 PM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics. Movies. Concerts. Books. He combines dry wit with 1st-person reporting to complement an annoying personality.
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