CBS Sports and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo parted ways earlier this month, following his July arrest on an operating-while-intoxicated charge. Since leaving the network, Romo's next move has become a subject of speculation amid a broader reshuffling across the NFL broadcasting landscape.
Recently, Front Office Sports analysts Ryan Glasspiegel and Michael McCarthy addressed the question of Romo's chances of replacing Troy Aikman as ESPN's lead color commentator on Monday Night Football.
In a recent article, McCarthy and Glasspiegel dismissed Romo as a viable candidate for Aikman's spot on Monday Night Football.
"There was a time back in 2019 that ESPN would have opened the vault for the ex-Cowboys quarterback," the analysts wrote . "Yes, Romo is damaged goods after leaving CBS Sports following an OWI arrest. But while his broadcasting future may be cloudy, his ex-partner, Jim Nantz, thinks he eventually wants back in the game. It is highly unlikely that his next opportunity would be as high-visibility as the MNF booth."
Romo joined CBS Sports as the lead color commentator alongside Jim Nantz immediately after his retirement from the NFL in 2017. The former Cowboys standout was an immediate hit in the booth, earning praise for his ability to anticipate plays before they happened. CBS rewarded him with a 10-year, $180 million contract in 2020, although criticism of his broadcasting style grew later in his tenure.
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Aikman has fueled speculation about his future at ESPN by noting that he will become a free agent after the season.
The pair reportedly got into a heated exchange before the Buffalo Bills-Los Angeles Rams Monday Night Football game a few weeks ago over Buck signing a six-year, $108 million contract extension with ESPN, while Aikman's five-year, $90 million contract is expiring at the end of the season.
Aikman's ESPN exit could have a knock-on effect in the broadcasting world, as Fox Sports color commentator Greg Olsen has been linked as a viable candidate for his spot on Monday Night Football.
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The shakeup could leave Fox Sports scrambling for a replacement, and during this week's segment of "Traina Thoughts," analyst Jimmy Traina suggested that Romo could be a candidate for the job.
"I do think it could be a landing spot for Romo," Traina said. "I think Romo would be perfect for that spot… So, we'll see what happens there. But that is a very interesting sort of offshoot of the whole Aikman leaves Monday Night Football, Olsen goes there, and who becomes the No. 2 at Fox? So, definitely keep an eye on that story for sure."
Traina also linked Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay to Olsen's job should he leave for ESPN and speculated that even Drew Brees could be promoted to the spot.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
