CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz has addressed the arrest and indefinite leave of his broadcast partner Tony Romo ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
Romo was absent from the network's annual media day on Tuesday after being arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI) following a golf tournament in Wisconsin last month. Police later released bodycam footage showing the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback failing field sobriety tests.
CBS Sports president David Berson confirmed that Romo has been placed on leave until further notice and stated there is currently no timetable or final decision regarding his return. Romo, who earns $18 million a year as an analyst, is scheduled to appear in court on September 21, though he is not required to attend the hearing in person.
In response to Romo's absence, CBS Sports has restructured its commentary teams. Former NFL star J.J. Watt has been promoted to the lead booth alongside Nantz and lead reporter Tracy Wolfson. Analyst Ross Tucker fills the vacancy left by Watt, joining play-by-play caller Ian Eagle on the network's secondary commentary team. Nantz, Watt, Eagle, and Tucker were all present at the media event to outline plans for the upcoming campaign.
Jim Nantz on Tony Romo Friendship
Nantz revealed he first learned of Romo's arrest while covering the PGA Tour's 3M Open. Speaking to reporters, per Awful Announcing, Nantz explained that CBS did not consult him on potential broadcast replacements while he focused on his golf assignments.
"No, I really was just laying low," Nantz said. "I had golf events to do and I knew they had a lot to, you know, look at, sort out. But, you know, I made my mind up because we have this late flurry of golf events on the schedule. I was going to communicate with Tony, which we have, back-and-forth... I just kind of wanted to focus on what's in front of me, and that's what I've done."
Nantz emphasized that his relationship with Romo extends far beyond their professional partnership, which began when Romo joined the CBS broadcast booth in 2017 following his retirement from professional football. Nantz noted that their bond dates back to 2011, when he attended Romo's wedding.
"Tony is a great friend of mine and has been for years," Nantz said. "He and I go back to 2011 when he got married, I was invited to his wedding. So, this was not someone in 2017 when he entered the booth I was just getting to know for the first time. So he's a great friend, continues to be, always will be. I adore his family, his wife is awesome. They're the ones that are on my mind right now. The contents of what we talked about, I'm just going to leave that private, and I think that's the only way and the appropriate way for me to look at it."
J.J. Watt Joins Lead CBS Broadcast Crew
The sudden change impacts Nantz as he prepares for his 23rd season as the lead NFL play-by-play voice for CBS. Despite the disruption, Nantz expressed strong confidence in Watt, describing the former Houston Texans defensive lineman as a very, very talented communicator.
Highlighting Watt's off-field achievements, Nantz pointed to his community leadership and broadcast potential. "When you win the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and you win the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award, which impresses me way more than anything he's done in his legendary first-ballot Hall of Fame football career, that tells you that the man knows about leadership and he knows how to not only lead people, he knows how to deliver a message," Nantz said.
"This is something that comes naturally for him," Nantz added. "Look at who he is, look at all that football stuff, just look at what he's been recognized for off the field and the ability to put a headset on and break down a football play compared to being in the community and helping people during a crisis in your city and rolling up your sleeves and doing things and leading people to help make Houston better, maybe this is something that comes naturally for him. He can do that."
Nantz and Watt will debut as the network's top team during Week 1 of the NFL season, calling an NFC North divisional game in Minnesota between the Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Further broadcast plans remain pending while CBS monitors Romo's legal situation.
CBS Executives Address Network Strategy
CBS Sports president David Berson addressed media members regarding the network's decision to modify its top commentary team while avoiding speculation on Romo's legal proceedings.
"I hope you can respect and appreciate this is a personal matter, and a legal one for Tony," Berson said. "So I can't speak to that aspect. But I can say this is an evolving situation. Therefore, we're still assessing. 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 was very important that our team, the many, many people who work on the NFL on CBS, have certainty and direction so we can definitively plan."
Berson noted that network executive decisions required protecting corporate reputation while ensuring broadcast production standards remain unaffected.
"In making this decision, we had to consider the impact on our image and our brand," Berson explained. "That's very important to us. Whether the games, marketing, PR, social, the focus should be - and needs to be - on our presentation and this great product and not on any other factors. Fortunately, we have a very deep bench. I'm very proud of the way everybody is stepping up and responding. As you know, J.J. will join Jim and Tracy as the lead team in Tony's absence. They are already knee-deep in planning. I have every confidence they'll be great."
