Tony Romo Breaks Silence After Parting Ways with CBS After 9-Year Run as an NFL Analyst

The former CBS Sports analyst offered a statement after parting ways with the network on Friday, Oct. 2

Romo, 46, was arrested for OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) in Wisconsin in July

Tony Romo is breaking his silence after he and CBS parted ways on Friday, Oct. 2, following his OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) arrest in July.

"I'm proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years," Romo, 46, said in a statement , according to ESPN. "I approached my role as a game analyst the way I've approached everything in my life — with a desire to win and be the best that I can be."

He continued, "I'm going to use this time to take a break, something I've never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity. I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans."

On Friday, the network announced that it had "mutually agreed to part ways" with the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who had been put on indefinite leave in the days after his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

He initially joined the network in 2017 after retiring from the NFL.

"CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward," the statement said.

CBS added that JJ Watt , who was elevated to Romo's role in the analyst's absence, will "continue to partner" with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on its lead NFL announcing team.

The retired Dallas Cowboys star and elite amateur golfer, who was in his home state of Wisconsin for a tournament when he was pulled over along Interstate 43, was given a field sobriety test at the time of his arrest. Authorities noted he performed poorly, and bodycam footage from the scene indicated that he refused a breathalyzer test .

In August, Romo received three new citations related to the arrest: first-offense operating while intoxicated , unsafe passing on the right side and possessing open intoxicants in his vehicle , per online court records.

Days later, he pleaded no contest and had his driving privileges revoked for six months.

Romo was also ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle he owned, attend and complete an alcohol assessment program, and pay a $784 fine.

In a statement on Instagram, Romo said he accepted the charges against him.

"Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain. That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol," he wrote in a Sept. 1 post.

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Romo added that the last month had been "difficult," but forced him to "confront and own my mistakes fully—to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public."

During this time, Romo said he would work "closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes."

The father of three made his first public appearance since his arrest this week in Oklahoma, where he competed in the pre-qualifying stage of the PGA Tour Q-School at The Club at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow, according to Tulsa's News on 6 .