Tony Romo QUITS CBS and reveals he is stepping away from the spotlight in emotional statement after OWI arrest
Tony Romo has quit CBS and vowed to step away from the spotlight to ‘focus on my health and family’ following his shock OWI arrest earlier this year.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who earned $18 million per year with CBS, was placed on indefinite leave after his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee.
On Friday, a spokesperson for Romo told The Daily Mail: ‘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.
‘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 was quickly replaced in the CBS booth by NFL legend JJ Watt as the network’s lead color commentator. He has been alongside Jim Nantz for the opening three weeks and will continue for the rest of the season.
Tony Romo has quit CBS and vowed to step away from the spotlight following his OWI arrest
Romo has been on indefinite leave at CBS since his OWI arrest in July in his native Wisconsin
Romo still had four years to run on the monster contract he signed with CBS back in 2020 when he burst onto the scene as one of the NFL’s shrewdest analysts.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand has reported that while the exact amount Romo will receive in his CBS settlement is unclear, the fact there is no sign of legal action suggests he has been paid a large chunk of the $72 million that was still outstanding.
Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson, struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Wisconsin back in September, two months after he was pulled over in his Jeep after playing in a golf tournament near Milwaukee.
Humiliating bodycam footage of him performing poorly in sobriety tests quickly went viral in the weeks after, and he was sidelined indefinitely by CBS before the NFL season got underway.
One of the conditions of his plea deal is that he will have to spend time in jail if he is found guilty of another OWI-related offense within the next 10 years.
Another drinking-and-driving conviction in the next decade will lead to a ‘mandatory jail sentence’ for Romo. He also agreed to have an ignition interlock device placed on all of his vehicles.
Romo was also fined more than $700 and his driver’s license was revoked for six months. He also vowed to complete an alcohol assessment program.
In addition to the original OWI charge, Romo was hit with first-offense OWI, unsafe passing on the right side, and possessing open intoxicants inside his vehicle.
In exchange for agreeing to the plea deal’s conditions, prosecutors have agreed to drop all other citations.
Last month, Romo candidly opened up on his struggles with pain medication and alcohol dependency and took accountability for the incident.
The retired quarterback was arrested after being pulled over in Milwaukee on July 23
Romo, pictured with wife Candice, vowed to step away to ‘focus on my health and family’
Romo made his first public appearance since striking the plea deal at a golf event this week
‘Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life,’ he said in a statement.
‘I played for more than 20 years, including 14 in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close to the game through broadcasting.
‘Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better.
‘This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me.
‘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 made his first public appearance since striking the plea deal at a golf tournament in Oklahoma this week as he attempted to turn pro.
He was trying to reach the first rung of the PGA Tour ladder but at the time of his announcement on Friday, Romo was languishing in the middle of the field.