Full Breakdown
Tony Romo Placed on Leave by CBS Sports Following DWI Arrest
7/31/2026, 9:00:33 PM
Core Event
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports’ lead NFL analyst Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on suspicion of driving under the influence. Within days, CBS announced that Romo would be placed on leave until further notice, removing him from its upcoming NFL broadcast lineup as the network prepares for the next season.
Background & Context
Romo joined CBS’s sports team after retiring from playing and quickly became a central voice in the network’s football coverage. His contract, negotiated in 2020, was reported to be worth roughly $17 million per year, underscoring his value to CBS’s talent roster. The leave comes amid a broader shift at CBS’s parent company, Paramount Skydance, which recently changed control after the Ellison family acquired Paramount from longtime owner Shari Redstone. That ownership transition has opened the door for the NFL to begin preliminary discussions with Paramount Skydance about the terms of a new broadcast-rights agreement.
Data & Statistics
- Romo’s annual compensation (2020 contract): about $17 million.
- CBS’s NFL analyst team includes Romo as the primary on-air talent for game-day commentary.
Official Statements & Responses
CBS Sports confirmed that Romo is “on leave until further notice,” indicating the network will proceed without him for the foreseeable future. Two sources familiar with the situation reported that the NFL has already initiated early talks with Paramount Skydance regarding a fresh rights deal, a process made possible by the recent change in corporate control.
What’s Next
With Romo unavailable, CBS must identify an interim analyst to cover the opening game and subsequent broadcasts. The ongoing rights-negotiation talks could also be affected, as the league evaluates the impact of Romo’s absence on its broadcast partnership. Both CBS and the NFL are expected to provide further updates as the season approaches and negotiations progress.
