CBS Sports has officially parted ways with Tony Romo, months after the former NFL quarterback was arrested in July for driving under the influence.
The network made the announcement Friday.
“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” the network said. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
Romo, who played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, was arrested in Wisconsin in late July. Police bodycam footage of the arrest shows an officer telling Romo that they could smell alcohol coming from his vehicle. Romo took a field sobriety test but refused to take a breathalyzer.
Shortly after the arrest, CBS Sports placed Romo on leave. He had been with the network since 2017.
On September 1, Romo pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle while intoxicated. In Milwaukee County, the offense is classified as a “traffic violation” rather than a criminal charge.
Following Friday’s announcement, Romo released a statement saying he plans to step away and take some time for himself.
“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.
He added that he intends to focus on his personal life before deciding what comes next.
“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,” Romo said. “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 had previously addressed the arrest in a statement released after he entered his no contest plea, saying he took full ownership of what happened.
“This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely,” Romo said at the time.
In that same statement, Romo opened up about the physical toll of his playing career and the struggles that followed.
“Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain,” he said. “That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”
At that point, Romo suggested that a return to his role at CBS was still possible. He also made clear that he was not trying to make excuses for his actions.
“None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them,” he said.
That return will not happen. With Friday’s announcement, Romo’s nine-year run as a game analyst for CBS Sports has come to an end, as the former Cowboys quarterback turns his attention to his health and his family before pursuing his next opportunity.
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