‘One week at a time’: Ross Tucker talks CBS promotion as Tony Romo drama could impact an Eagles game

Tony Romo’s arrest and subsequent absence forced CBS into a game of NFL musical chairs, and one of the beneficiaries is a familiar Philly voice.

Ross Tucker, the Eagles preseason announcer on NBC10 since 2019, is jumping to the No. 2 booth at CBS alongside veteran play-by-play voice Ian Eagle.

It’s a big promotion for Tucker, a Wyomissing native and former NFL offensive lineman, though for now it’s just Week 1. He’ll replace former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, who will fill in for Romo alongside Jim Nantz in CBS’ No. 1 booth.

“I’m getting hundreds of text messages from people congratulating me. It’s kind of crazy,” Tucker said.

When Romo comes back is anyone’s guess. CBS placed him on indefinite leave following his arrest in Wisconsin on July 23 for suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday, Sept. 21 at the end of Week 2.

“I don’t think they have a timeline on anything,” Tucker said. “It sounds like we’re taking it one week at a time.”

One reason CBS bumped Tucker up is he and Eagle already have a great rapport in the booth. The two have called at least 20 games together on Westwood One, including the Eagles’ disappointing playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season.

“There’s a real comfort level and familiarity there,” Tucker said. “And he has the quickest wit of almost anybody I’ve ever been around.”

In just one example, during Westwood One’s radio broadcast of a 2024 Thursday Night Football game between the Eagles and Washington Commanders, Ross reacted to a play made by Birds defender Zack Baun with the call, “Baun. Zack Baun.”

“Ian, with no hesitation, said, ‘Shaken and stirred!’” Tucker said. “I wasn’t expecting him to have a follow-up … But he’s just so good.”

In addition to his role with CBS, Tucker will call all three Eagles preseason games — two on NBC10 with Scott Graham and one on CBS alongside Andrew Catalon. He’ll also call his fare share of Thursday Night Football games on Westwood One, which has given him something of an upper hand leading into Sunday’s games on TV.

“Sometimes on the field talking to players and coaches, I’ll ask them about the game I have Sunday and their opinion on it, and I’ll get good insight there,” Tucker said. “So there’s a lot of value in doing both.”

The only downside for now is he will no longer call games alongside Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy, whose friendship with Tucker goes back to calling his college football games at Princeton.

Instead, McCarthy will pair up former running back Robert Turbin, who has been a college football analyst for CBS Sports Network since 2022.

Former NFL defender and South Jersey native Logan Ryan will replace Charles Davis alongside Andrew Catalon. Davis is shifting over to college football, where he’ll join a stable of analysts that includes former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.

The other new face for CBS is former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week. Kuechly was also recently hired by Netflix as the streamer’s top NFL analyst, where he’ll call games alongside Noah Eagle.

Romo wasn’t in New York Tuesday for CBS’ media day event, a result of his indefinite suspension from the network following his arrest in Wisconsin last month.

The former Cowboys quarterback, entering his 10th season with CBS, was arrested and charged with suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. He was also cited for having an open container in the vehicle and refusing to take an intoxication test. Bodycam footage of his arrest has been widely shared on social media.

David Berson, president of CBS Sports, told reporters it’s an “evolving situation” and there’s “no time table or final decision” on when Romo could be back in the booth … or if.

“Fortunately, we have a very deep bench, and I’m really proud of the way everyone’s stepping up and responding,” Berson said.

The Eagles have two games scheduled to air on CBS this season. Romo had been slated to call the Birds’ Week 11 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 22, but that’s up in the air until his legal situation is resolved.

Sports media pundits have speculated this could be a convenient way for CBS to move on from Romo and his reportedly $18-million-a-year contract, which runs through the 2029 season. But police have yet to release the results of his delayed blood alcohol test, and CBS could find itself ensnared in an nasty legal battle if it attempts to force Romo out using a morals clause in his contract.

“There is no extant reality in which CBS fires its No. 1 NFL analyst for ‘unsafe passing on the right’ or ‘crossing the gore area,’” Sportico’s Anthony Crupi wrote.

Other top announcers and sports media personalities have been able to come back from drunk driving incidents.

In 2009, Charles Barkley was suspended by TNT for six weeks after being arrested on New Year’s Eve for driving under the influence. Barkley ultimately pleaded guilty and served three days in jail.

Jalen Rose was suspended but later returned to ESPN after his DUI arrest in 2011, despite waiting three weeks to tell the network. Al Michaels was arrested for DUI in 2013, but NBC took no disciplinary action and he didn’t miss any Sunday Night Football games since his legal issues were resolved prior to the start of the season.