CBS Sports and Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned lead NFL analyst, are done.
"CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward."
J.J. Watt has been named as Romo's replacement.
Romo joined CBS in 2017 and signed a 10-year, $180 million deal in 2020, one of the richest contracts in sports broadcasting. About four years and roughly $72 million remained on it. Neither side disclosed the terms of the separation, so how much of that CBS actually pays out is anyone's guess.
The exit comes a little more than two months after Romo was arrested for operating while intoxicated on July 23 in the Milwaukee area, after competing in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship. Body camera footage showed him telling deputies he was visiting relatives before he failed field sobriety tests, and police found an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. He later pleaded no contest.
In a statement, Romo said he developed a reliance on pain medication after back surgeries from his playing days, which led to an "over-reliance" on alcohol. "None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them," he said, adding that he plans to step away and focus on his health and family before pursuing another job.
Reviews of Romo's work in the booth had waned in recent seasons, AP noted. An OWI arrest is a convenient off-ramp from the back half of a contract signed at the top of the market.
CBS's parent, Paramount Skydance, is days from closing its $31-a-share cash takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, with the deal expected to close Tuesday, Oct. 6. A newly merged media giant will be looking hard at every nine-figure talent contract on the books.
Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt takes Romo's seat next to Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on CBS's top NFL crew, while Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker and Evan Washburn stay together on the No. 2 team. Early reviews of Watt's fill-in work were mixed, praising his preparation while questioning his feel for big moments.