Tony Romo is out at CBS, a little more than a month after the network’s lead NFL color analyst was put on leave following his July arrest in Milwaukee on suspicions of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
CBS announced in a brief statement Friday afternoon that the 46-year-old Romo would not be returning to the network.
“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” the statement read. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
Romo released a statement in which he will take some time to considering his future.
“I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years. I approached my role as a game analyst the way I’ve approached everything in my life — with a desire to win and be the best that I can be,” Romo said. “I’m going to use this time to take a break, something I’ve never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity. I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans.”
Romo’s departure is a somewhat ignominious conclusion to a run alongside Jim Nantz in the top booth that began with much fanfare in 2017.
Romo joined CBS upon retiring from a 13-year career as a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, and became an instant broadcasting phenomenon for his ease in predicting plays before they happened.
In February 2020, Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million extension with CBS. But as his career progressed and new NFL players replaced many of the ones he played with or against, Romo’s casual style began coming across as a meandering lack of preparedness.
Romo, a Wisconsin native, was arrested on July 23 after he was pulled over on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee County following his playing in the Wisconsin Amateur Golf Championship.
Body-camera footage, first revealed by the website TMZ.com, showed Romo struggling through field-sobriety tests. Police found an open container of alcohol in his Jeep when the vehicle was being prepared to be towed.
Eight days after the incident, CBS released a one-sentence statement that read, “Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice.” It was the first time the network had addressed his arrest.
CBS did not reveal Friday whether Romo’s contract, which had four years remaining, was bought out or settled.
J.J. Watt, who was elevated to the top team when Romo was put on leave, will remain with Nantz and reporter Tracy Wolfson on the top team for the remainder of the season, the network said in the statement.
All of CBS’s other NFL broadcast teams will remain, including the No. 2 team of Ian Eagle and Ross Tucker.
Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com.