Tony Romo Retires, Hired by CBS Sports as NFL Lead Analyst 2
Jan 15, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo made it official by retiring from the NFL to join Jim Nantz in the CBS booth.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo announced he is retiring after 14 seasons in the NFL to pursue a career in broadcasting after various injuries over the past two seasons.

On Tuesday it was announced that Romo struck gold by joining CBS Sports as the lead NFL analyst. Based on past scheduling in the NFL, if all goes the same and pending prime time games, Romo should return to Dallas at least once in the 2017 season.

Romo will work alongside the network’s No. 1 team featuring play-by-play voice Jim Nantz and reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS’ coverage of Thursday Night Football and The NFL on CBS on Sunday Afternoons. He replaces Phil Simms who was the lead analyst for CBS Sports since 1998.

“Tony has been one of the NFL’s biggest stars for the past decade, and we are thrilled to welcome him to CBS Sports,” said Sean McManus, CBS Sports chairman in a network press release. “He will bring the same passion, enthusiasm and knowledge that he displayed on the field to the broadcast booth. He brings a fresh and insightful perspective to our viewers having just stepped off the field. We know Tony will quickly develop into a terrific analyst, and alongside Jim Nantz, will become a must-listen for fans each week.”

Tony Romo spent his entire 14-year playing career with the Cowboys. He ends his career as the franchise leader in passing yards (34,183), touchdowns (248) and, most notably, winning drives, with 30. This is seven better than fellow Cowboys legend Roger Staubach and nine more than Troy Aikman.

He only won two playoff games and was never able to reach the Super Bowl, but was always a Cowboys mainstay and one of the team’s toughest players.

“When you think about the NFL, two of the most iconic brands are the Dallas Cowboys and CBS Sports,” said Romo in the press release. “Going from one legendary team to another as I begin the next phase of my career is a dream come true. I have always known that once my playing career was over I wanted to become a broadcaster. I am ecstatic for the opportunity to work with Jim as I learn the craft and convey to fans my passion for this great game.”

As for Phil Simms and his future with CBS, the entire situation is unclear at the moment. This was the most shocking development of the news that the Romo addition would lead to a change on a network’s major broadcast team. McManus also mentioned in the press release that CBS is currently working with Simms on a future role with CBS Sports. One of those options could be at The NFL Today which currently has an opening after analyst Tony Gonzalez announced his departure from the network. He could potentially fill that vacancy which would add to an experienced team of analysts and host James Brown who he has worked with over the years in his work with Inside the NFL.

The news of the Tony Romo hiring also is a missed opportunity for Fox Sports who reportedly wanted to hire him to replace John Lynch as the No. 2 analyst. Lynch left the network in February to be the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers. They were also not able to gain the services of Rex Ryan who joined ESPN for Sunday NFL Countdown and now might look internally to fill its open game analyst spot.

John Santamaria joins as a writer in March 2017. He is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology with an M.A. and B.F.A. in Communication Arts. John currently is a Technology teacher and prior to that was employed at MLB Advanced Media and CBS Sports Network. He also works as a Public Address Announcer for various colleges including his alma mater NYIT. John is a lifelong sports fan rooting for the Mets, Islanders, Jets, and Knicks.