As he prepares to call his second Super Bowl with CBS Sports, lead analyst for The NFL on CBS and former quarterback Tony Romo is preparing to work with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. Over the course of last season, Romo was the subject of a surfeit of criticism pertaining to his broadcast style. In fact, there were various reports openly questioning the chemistry between Romo and Nantz, suggesting that a change in on-air personnel could be coming to the network ahead of the network’s broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII this year. CBS Sports, however, has confirmed its on-air lineup for the 2023 season, and the lead booth remains intact.
In a recent interview with Richard Deitsch of The Athletic, Romo confirmed that he was privy to the criticism but put everything in context. After all, having played in the National Football League for 13 years, Romo knows that everything people do is scrutinized to the highest degree. When Romo receives feedback from CBS Sports management about his performances, most of it tends to be positive, understanding which sources to value and others to mute.
“You don’t go by what some people might say,” Romo said. “They love our team; they know how talented this group is. I think that they appreciate our skill set, and we do theirs.
Romo begins the season broadcasting a matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, and it is a game many sports media pundits will be watching to see if the dynamic has changed. Yet the quarterback turned analyst also recognizes when people seek engagement and sometimes equip hyperbole for this very purpose.
“People like clicks,” Romo said. “I mean, that’s a real thing, and I think they should. I think it’s all a positive. Talking about it, it helps all of the NFL. Our job is to go out there and perform like we’ve done and try to always do our best. I think we’ve done a great job with that. You’re looking at a very talented group here. Like all things, we’re going to go and try to put our best foot forward.”
CBS Sports reportedly pays Romo $18 million annually to be a part of its lead crew, which adds another layer of pressure from external sources. From the beginning of his broadcast career, Romo was lauded by viewers for being able to accurately predict plays in the tightest of situations. Even through the criticism thereafter, he has stayed true to himself, taking a lesson that he learned early in his professional career.
“I remember reading in the comments section of the newspaper in my second year or so; there were people saying, ‘He throws it too low; he’ll never make it,’” Romo said. “So I went and tried to throw higher arm because some guy wrote an article or said it in the comments. I mean, how dumb, right? It’s like that guy had no idea what he’s talking about. What’s said is not always reality.”
