R1 CBS INSIDER SHUTS DOWN TONY ROMO REPLACEMENT RUMORS — AS THE NETWORK POSTS ITS BEST NUMBERS SINCE 1998
Tony Romo stands at the center of a disconnect between the social media vitriol and the complex numbers that define his career at CBS Sports today.
Online critics suggest the lead analyst is crumbling under pressure while network executives see historic ratings success during the superlative 2025 NFL season.
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.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback remains firmly entrenched in the broadcast booth thanks to a massive 10-year, $180 million contract running through 2030.
Romo and partner Jim Nantz delivered the most-watched regular season game in league history. 57.2 million viewers tuned in for the massive Chiefs-Cowboys matchup broadcast.
CBS Sports posted its best viewership numbers since regaining rights in 1998, with an impressive average audience of 21.3 million per weekly broadcast game.
Tony Romo defies the online critics
Recent backlash focused on an erratic performance during the Buffalo Bills victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars where Tony Romo reportedly battled through a significant physical illness.
One network insider described the controversy as “much ado about nothing.” Producers Jim Rikhoff and Mike Arnold remain fully supportive of their star talent.
The duo ranked 7th in a recent Awful Announcing poll, ahead of high-profile teams like Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt of Fox.
Romo correctly predicted the offensive adjustments by quarterback Josh Allen before the winning touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks during that same Wild Card thriller game.
CBS President David Berson has not issued any mandates for change because the viewership data contradicts the negative sentiment found on platforms like Twitter today.
Industry insiders dismiss the idea that J.J. Watt or Ian Eagle will replace the current number one team before the next Super Bowl cycle arrives soon.
The crew prepares to call the pivotal AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Bills and the Denver Broncos this Saturday afternoon with high stakes involved again.
Demoting an analyst earning $18 million annually to a secondary role remains a financial impossibility for any rational network executive in the current media climate.
Romo faces no real threat to his position as long as the ratings continue to shatter historical records, regardless of the loud internet chatter online.
The disconnect between angry social media posts and actual television ratings shows that silent majorities still enjoy the enthusiasm Romo brings to the booth each week.
