Did CBS Sports Address Tony Romo’s Absence During First NFL Broadcast?
What To Know
- CBS Sports did not address Tony Romo’s absence during its first 2026 NFL broadcast.
- Romo was placed on leave after a July arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
- Romo publicly acknowledged his struggles with alcohol and accepted responsibility, while CBS has not announced a timetable for his return.
As CBS Sports kicked off its on-air coverage of the regular 2026 NFL season on Sunday — as the New York Jets played the Tennessee Titans — viewers were likely wondering how the NFL on CBS team would cover Tony Romo’s absence following the analyst’s arrest.
But NFL on CBS kept it all about the gameplay in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, not delving into the behind-the-scenes drama, and social media users seemed divided about Romo’s absence.
“I honestly think watching the start of Bills/Texans I have learned more about schemes and football in general from Ross Tucker in 2 minutes than I have from Tony Romo in years,” one X user wrote.
Another user, however, wrote, “I miss Tony Romo in the booth on Sunday.”
Arturo Holmes/WireImage
Romo was put on leave at CBS Sports after a July arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he pleaded no contest to the charge in September, USA Today reports.
A spokesperson for the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback said in August that Romo’s team was “communicating with CBS about next steps,” as USA Today reported at the time. CBS Sports president David Berson addressed the situation during CBS’ NFL Media Day in August as well, saying it was a “personnel matter and a legal one for Tony,” per Awful Announcing.
“What I can say is it’s an evolving situation, and therefore we’re still assessing,” Berson added. “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’s very important that our team, the many, many hundreds of people who work on the NFL on CBS, have certainty and direction so we can definitively plan and focus on the production and marketing as we kick off the season.”
For his part, Romo said in a statement on Instagram this month that he developed an over-reliance on alcohol after trying to get himself off the pain medications he was taking following multiple back surgeries.
“As I have taught my three young sons: When you fall short, you stand up and take full responsibility,” he added. “That is an important first step. The harder and more important step is examining the path that brought you here and making the changes necessary to move forward. That path requires honesty. None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.”
Conversation7 Comments
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G
Bring Tony back to cbs sports.
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H
Tony has been good for the game. He helps people understand what is happening and why. We are all human and need some compassion. Let him bring his humor back to the booth.
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B
Adwi is a personal thing no telling how many people that work for CBS or ABC or NFL have gotten DWIs they should be exposed and treated like Tony Romo
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B
Who ever downvoted the “bring Tony Romo back” think about that time you made a costly mistake and the world forgave you. You have celebrities who have done way worse and a person who leads the country with a reputation that would land any regular citizen in prison. It’s all good though you will probably be faced with a similar situation in the future where it will cost you your job and your livelihood.
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B
If all these television companies and NFL can prove that no employee has ever received the DWI then it's Justified the way they treated Tony Romo but I guarantee you there are several including owners and owners children's and players that have crossed that line with no repercussions black Tony
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M
I miss having someone in the booth who complements Jim Nantz, JJ Watt is a nice guy, but the first few minutes of the game it was all Jim Nantz because JJ either didn't know what to say or how to say it.
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B
That’s not how it works… It’s a mix between real world obligations by the play by play, and what Chris Collinsworth defines the “analyst start of game silence” as a show of respect….Most experienced analysts try and wait a couple minutes to let the play by play guy establish himself, let the tv fans trickle and get wind of who’s calling the play by play, it lets the delay buffer click in without 2 ppl talking (easier to sync the delay for future re broadcasts”…Not talking also gives the replay system time to catch up in a seemingly “live game”, The play by play host also needs time to establish the teams playing, the lineups, “any procedural busy work” that is asked by production to pass along to the masses…The analyst usually waits a sequence to observe strategy of the scripted plays… unless there is a surprising big moment they usually tend to stay quiet until the replays start showing up
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