If CBS decides to punish Tony Romo for his offseason arrest, who could replace the top NFL announcer?
Romo, 46, was arrested on suspicion of OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday night. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned CBS broadcaster was pulled over on southbound Interstate 43 at about 6:18 p.m. CT after he “performed poorly” on standardized field sobriety tests, according to Milwaukee County Sheriff’s records. He was booked on one count of OWI and was later released from jail.
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The top NFL announcer, who makes more than $20 million at CBS, has been ordered to appear in court on Sept. 21. That’s the second Monday of the 2026 NFL regular season. Romo would likely be working for CBS on that Sunday, perhaps for the Patriots vs. Steelers game.
But NFL fans are pressuring CBS to suspend Romo, for at least a game or two.
CBS is facing pressure to suspend Romo.© MATT DAYHOFF / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
NFL fans believe that CBS needs to make a statement and punish Romo – publicly – for his offseason arrest.
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“If this was a player or a coach, they would probably be suspended. CBS needs to do the same to Romo,” one fan added.
“Driving while intoxicated is never OK. CBS needs to act swiftly here,” one fan added.
“I’m a Romo fan, but this is not good. He needs to face public discipline for this kind of behavior,” one fan added.
“CBS better suspend him,” one fan added.
If Romo is suspended for a game or two, who could CBS replace him with?
3 options for CBS to replace Romo with
The top option could be J.J. Watt, who is emerging as a top in-game NFL analyst for CBS. He’s rising quickly and got good reviews for his performance during the 2025 NFL regular season, with some even suggesting that he should replace Romo.
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Watt is personable and colorful and brings a defensive mentality to the broadcasts, which is somewhat rare at the top level.
J.J Watt is thought of quite highly. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Steph Chambers/Getty Images
The second option could be Nate Burleson. The former NFL wide receiver is clearly well liked by his bosses at CBS, as he works on both the network’s NFL coverage and its daily morning show.
Burleson is more known for studio work, though he’s done some in-game coverage, as well. This could be an opportunity for the former NFL wide receiver to make a big move into game broadcasting on a premier stage.
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Nate Burleson on air. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )
Russell Wilson is joining CBS, as well, and maybe he could land a spot appearance or two in the broadcasting booth.
The former star NFL quarterback is expected to do studio work for CBS, but if Romo is suspended, that could present an opportunity for someone to do some in-game work. NFL networks love former quarterbacks, so Wilson could be a natural fit.
Ultimately, though, CBS has to decide to suspend Romo first if a replacement is going to be decided on.
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Russell Wilson is joining CBS, too.© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Who would you choose to replace Romo with on CBS’s top NFL broadcast for the 2026 season?
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jul 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports Media section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
