Jim Nantz speaks out on 'great friend' Tony Romo's OWI arrest, says he will 'always' be there for him

Nantz Addresses Tony Romo's Arrest as J.J. Watt Takes Booth Spot for Upcoming NFL Season

CBS Sports veteran play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz has broken his silence on the July arrest of longtime broadcast partner Tony Romo, revealing that the two have stayed in touch during the weeks since the incident and that Romo's future with the network remains uncertain.

The situation surfaced in late July when Romo was arrested by Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office deputies after exhibiting signs of impairment behind the wheel in Wisconsin. According to reports, Romo was driving back from a golf event when the stop occurred. He was ultimately charged with operating while intoxicated, possessing an open container of alcohol in his vehicle, and unsafe passing, after allegedly struggling with field sobriety tests.

The arrest raised immediate questions about Romo's standing at CBS Sports, where he has served as the network's lead NFL analyst since signing a landmark 10-year, $180 million deal in 2020. Reports indicate Romo is still owed approximately $72 million under the terms of that agreement.

Speaking at "NFL on CBS" Media Day on Tuesday, Nantz addressed the situation directly when asked by Awful Announcing whether he had been kept informed about Romo's status.

"I really was just laying low," Nantz said. "I had golf events to do and I knew they had a lot to, you know, look at, sort out. But I made my mind up because we have this late flurry of golf events on the schedule. I was going to communicate with Tony, which we have, back and forth."

Nantz said he chose to focus on his own responsibilities as the season approached but confirmed he remains close to the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

"Tony is a great friend of mine and has been for years," Nantz explained. "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."

Nantz also expressed concern for Romo's household, noting that the broadcaster's wife, Candice Crawford, is someone he cares deeply about. He declined to elaborate on private conversations between the two.

CBS Sports President Berson addressed the matter on the same day, describing Romo's status as "evolving" and saying the network was "still assessing" the situation.

"We have to consider the impact on our image and our brand," Berson said. "That's very important to us. The focus should be and needs to be on our presentation and this great product and not on any others." He added that CBS has "a deep bench and everybody is stepping up."

That bench was quickly filled: CBS announced that J.J. Watt, the former Houston Texans defensive star, would join Nantz in the booth for the upcoming season, effectively replacing Romo on the network's lead broadcast team.

The broader scrutiny surrounding Romo extends beyond the arrest itself. Critics have in recent seasons raised questions about his preparation and chemistry with Nantz. Additionally, reports suggest Romo's contract includes an industry-standard morals clause that CBS could potentially invoke to terminate his employment, particularly given the existence of an arrest video. However, any such move would likely face legal challenges from Romo's representation, given the substantial remaining compensation on his contract.

Adding complexity to the timeline, Romo's court date has been set for September 21 — eight days after CBS is scheduled to air its first NFL broadcast featuring Nantz and Watt.

The stakes could be high for the network. There were already reports before Romo's arrest that CBS was questioning whether it would retain him as its lead analyst beyond the 2026 season. Those deliberations now take place against the backdrop of a major upcoming broadcast: CBS is slated to air the Super Bowl in 2028, a marquee event that could factor into the network's long-term lineup decisions.

For his part, Nantz framed the situation with characteristic discretion. He said his thoughts are with Romo's family and that the details of their private conversations would remain exactly that — private. The focus, he indicated, is squarely on the work ahead.