Tony Romo breaks TV silence with surprise Pat McAfee appearance after July arrest and CBS Sports departure
Tony Romo has made his first television appearance since his July arrest, joining Pat McAfee’s alternate broadcast of Monday Night Football on November 9. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback appeared during the Buffalo Bills vs. Minnesota Vikings game on ESPN2, where he spent several minutes discussing the action. His return came just weeks after CBS Sports and Romo officially ended their nine-year working relationship in October. The former NFL star discussed Minnesota’s defensive approach and praised defensive coordinator Brian Flores for the way he was using pressure against Buffalo’s offense. He also spoke about the Vikings’ struggles on offense and joked about getting the ball more often to wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Romo had stayed away from television since his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On September 1, Romo pleaded no contest to the OWI charge and shared a public statement about his personal struggles.
“We miss the hell out of you this season,” McAfee told Romo. He also said his efforts to stop using those medications resulted in an over-reliance on alcohol. Romo remained part of the broadcast for several minutes before preparing to leave. However, McAfee made sure to give him a warm goodbye and shared how much the team had missed having him around during the NFL season. “You need to know that from all of us. Appreciate you, brother. Romo thanked the team before signing off. The former quarterback was arrested after a traffic stop and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) following his appearance at a celebrity golf tournament. CBS Sports placed him on leave later that month. The network also brought in former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt to work alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz on its main NFL broadcast team. He explained that several back surgeries had left him dealing with constant pain, which led to a dependence on pain medication.
His appearance was also covered by sports media outlets, including Awful Announcing and USA Today Sports, which reported on his return to the broadcast.