CBS Sports officially announced Friday that Tony Romo will not return to the network. In July, CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave after he was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
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As OutKick reported at the time, industry sources did not expect Romo to return. In short, the DWI accelerated a decision CBS had already made: it wanted out of the Tony Romo business.
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CBS will broadcast its next Super Bowl in 2028, the first under David Ellison-backed Skydance ownership. The company had no interest in entering another Super Bowl cycle with Romo as Jim Nantz’s lead analyst. Over the past several seasons, Romo’s performance became a frequent target of criticism from fans and media alike.
The low point came during Super Bowl LVIII, when Romo botched the call of Patrick Mahomes’ game-winning touchdown pass in overtime, a moment many viewed as symbolic of his decline in the booth.
The question now is who replaces Romo long term. With the NFL reportedly acquiring an equity stake in CBS, the network should remain one of the league’s most valuable broadcast partners well into the next decade.
For now, CBS says future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt will remain Jim Nantz’s color analyst. The network elevated Watt from its No. 2 team to the lead broadcast following Romo’s suspension. Reviews of Watt have been mixed, though we generally agree with those who have praised his performance.
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Still, whether Watt holds the job through next season — and into the Super Bowl — may depend less on his performance than on who becomes available.
The contracts of both ESPN’s Troy Aikman and Fox’s Greg Olsen expire after the Super Bowl in February, which Aikman will call alongside Joe Buck for ESPN/ABC.
In one of the more puzzling developments of this broadcast cycle, ESPN and Aikman have yet to reach a contract extension even after the network finalized a new deal with Buck.
Aikman is still widely regarded as the NFL’s premier game analyst. With deep-pocketed ownership and a Super Bowl on the horizon, CBS could make a serious run at him. Signing Aikman would likely require a contract worth more than $25 million annually.
Olsen would also be an attractive option. At just 41, he already has Super Bowl experience, having called Super Bowl LVII for Fox alongside Kevin Burkhardt before Tom Brady replaced him as the network’s lead analyst.
Watt does have one meaningful advantage: a full season of chemistry with Nantz.
The biggest question surrounding Aikman is how quickly he would develop that same rapport with a play-by-play partner other than Buck after more than two decades together. He’d likely adapt without much trouble, but the uncertainty could work in Watt’s favor.
Olsen, by contrast, has worked successfully with multiple play-by-play partners throughout his broadcasting career. He has built chemistry quickly with each. ESPN could also emerge as a logical landing spot if it ultimately fails to re-sign Aikman.
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If neither Aikman nor Olsen lands with ESPN or CBS, Netflix would become an obvious contender as it continues expanding its NFL portfolio.
Elsewhere, Amazon has reportedly re-signed Kirk Herbstreit to remain its lead NFL color analyst.
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