CBS is expected to keep Tony Romo as its lead NFL analyst despite his first-offense summer arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated arrest in Wisconsin
00:07 ET, 28 Jul 2026Updated 16:27 ET, 28 Jul 2026
CBS lead NFL analyst Tony Romo is expected to keep his job following his Milwaukee arrest
Tony Romo has built his second football career after playing in the NFL for 13 seasons, and CBS Sports intends to keep the momentum going after its lead football analyst’s OWI arrest in Wisconsin.
As soon as news of Romo’s arrest in Wisconsin broke on Thursday, NFL fans questioned whether CBS would keep him alongside Jim Nantz or make a change in the broadcast booth.
And according to the Daily Mail, CBS expects to keep Romo in his role for the 2026 season, even as some fans online call for a change. Fox Sports took a different approach last October, firing Mark Sanchez after his arrest in Indianapolis. It comes as Ryan Clark received a humiliating job offer after his ESPN firing.
Part of the decision comes down to Wisconsin law. A first-offense OWI is usually a civil traffic violation, not a criminal charge. Backlash against Romo picked up after his mugshot was released to the public. CBS has publicly not commented on his job status.
Police arrested Romo on Thursday night in Milwaukee after pulling him over on Interstate 43. Local reports said he failed field sobriety tests before being booked and released.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation states that Romo could have had his driving license revoked if he failed to perform the test. Romo is due in court on September 21. Details regarding his blood alcohol content or other circumstances have not been released.
Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on OWI(Image: Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)
Wisconsin’s laws state that breath alcohol ignition interlock devices are handed out to vehicle operators with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or any repeat offenders. Romo’s arrest happened just as NFL offseason activities began and just before his expected return to CBS.
The network will tie with FOX and broadcast six games during Week 1 next season. FOX is scheduled to broadcast two Wild Card games, a divisional round matchup, and the NFC Championship game during the next postseason.
Romo has been CBS’s lead game analyst since April 2017, after retiring from the Dallas Cowboys. The former NFL QB has earned a reputation for calling out formations, spotting pressure, and predicting plays before they happen.
Romo withdrew from the American Century Championship after his arrest(Image: Getty Images)
He warned that “a turnover would be catastrophic” seconds before Jarrett Stidham was sacked, stripped, and the Broncos recovered the ball deep in Patriots territory during last season’s AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.
The honeymoon period ended, and NFL viewers have hammered Romo over his style, energy, and tendency while in the booth. Barstool’s Dave Portnoy once said Romo “looks like he’s on drugs or something when he’s calling games.”
Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million extension in 2020 that runs through the 2030 season and remains one of the most recognizable voices in the sport.
It comes after Travis Kelce gave a blunt 10-word explanation for refusing to sign a football for a young Kansas City Chiefs fan.