Tony Romo remains on indefinite leave from CBS Sports. But Jim Nantz says their friendship hasn’t skipped a beat despite the distance between them.
What We Know: Nantz and Romo have called NFL games together since 2017, forming CBS’s top broadcast team alongside sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. CBS placed Romo on leave “until further notice” after his July 23 OWI arrest in Wisconsin. J.J. Watt has since stepped in as the network’s top analyst alongside Nantz for the 2026 season. Meanwhile, CBS Sports president David Berson says no final decision has been made on Romo’s future.
What They Said: Jim Nantz (via Awful Announcing): “Tony is a great friend of mine and has been for years. 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.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether Romo returns to the booth this season is still up in the air. Berson called the situation “evolving” and declined to set a timetable. Additionally, Romo hasn’t publicly addressed the arrest, so his own plans remain a mystery.
What It Means: Nantz’s comments suggest CBS’s top broadcast voice isn’t distancing himself from Romo personally. However, that loyalty doesn’t guarantee Romo’s professional future at the network. With Watt already paired alongside Nantz for Week 1, CBS appears to be moving forward regardless. Ultimately, Romo’s next steps depend on decisions well beyond Nantz’s control.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.