CBS Puts Tony Romo on Indefinite Leave After OWI Plea, Elevates J.J. Watt

Q: With J.J. Watt taking the lead booth this month, will CBS permanently replace Tony Romo or absorb his massive $72 million contract?

CBS has not decided yet whether Tony Romo will be permanently replaced, and it also has not said it will simply eat the remaining roughly $72 million on his contract. What CBS has said publicly is narrower: Romo is on indefinite leave, J.J. Watt will take the lead booth with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson starting Sept. 13, and there is “no timetable or final decision” on Romo’s future, according to CBS Sports president David Berson. That means Watt’s move is official for now, but not yet officially permanent. The contract is the complicating factor. Romo is reportedly in year seven of a 10-year, $180 million deal, leaving about four years and $72 million remaining. Because that money is so large, CBS is unlikely to make a clean break without exploring contractual options. Multiple reports note Romo’s deal likely includes a morals clause, which could give CBS leverage if it argues his conduct damaged the company’s brand. But using that clause to avoid paying the full amount would almost certainly trigger a major legal or arbitration fight, so a negotiated settlement or role change could be more realistic than outright termination without pay. In practical terms, Watt is now in an audition for the permanent No. 1 job. If he performs well and CBS likes the chemistry with Nantz, the network could make the change stick. If Romo returns, CBS could still choose to reinstate him, demote him, move him to another role, or negotiate an exit. Right now, all of those outcomes remain open.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Sep 1

Tony Romo said he takes responsibility for his “failures” after CBS placed him on indefinite leave from its NFL coverage.
Tuesday’s statement said Romo pleaded no contest to a civil OWI offense in Wisconsin, the issue tied to his leave.
J.J. Watt will join CBS’s lead broadcast team with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson to open the 2026 NFL season.
Sept. 13 will mark Watt’s first game with Nantz, calling Packers-Vikings after moving up from CBS’s No. 2 crew.
Romo, CBS’s lead NFL analyst since 2017, had worked three Super Bowls after retiring from the Cowboys that same year.