Will CBS demote Jim Nantz and Tony Romo for the 2026 season? That’s a popular question floating around NFL circles this week.
After retiring from the NFL in 2017, Romo joined CBS Sports and immediately became a fan favorite due to his ability to predict offensive plays. Unfortunately, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback has seriously regressed in the broadcast booth over the past few years.
Advertisement
There are plenty of people calling for Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt to replace Nantz and Romo as the No. 1 broadcast crew for CBS. However, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo claims that’ll never happened.
“I don’t want to go crazy because I told you years ago, he was awful, and now everybody agrees. He is an absolutely horrendous broadcaster and he is stealing money,” Russo said. “He’s making $17 million through 2030, they can’t get rid of him. And the idea that the internet, the 23 years olds who read Awful Announcing think, ‘Why don’t they move Ian and J.J. Watt into that slot and move Nantz and Romo down.’ Are you crazy?
“They’re going to move Nantz off the No. 1 spot and put him down to No. 2? They’re never doing that. I don’t even think they’re moving Romo off and putting J.J. Watt. First off, J.J. Watt’s done about 10 games and none of us has ever seen J.J. Watt do a big game. Never! Nobody has ever seen or heard J.J. Watt with the whole world watching, with a drama filled game, with 50 million paying attention in the middle of January in a playoff spot with a lot of happenings.”
Advertisement
Tony Romo is pictured before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Oklahoma won 24-3.© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
What’s the issue for Romo?
Media insider Andrew Marchand suggested that Romo doesn’t study enough film throughout the season. That would explain why he’s not as sharp as he used to be in the booth.
“The problem for Romo is he doesn’t appear as if he does the homework,” Marchand said, via Awful Announcing. “After you get further away from playing — and you’ve been studying film — you have to keep studying film to know what’s going on in the league, and you have to take some time. I can’t tell you 100 percent that Romo isn’t studying, but that’s kind of the rumor on the street, No. 1. And No. 2, you’re watching the game and just not getting much insight.”
Advertisement
Hopefully, Romo gets back on the right track. For now though, CBS has to be concerned about his future.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.