Tony Romo reaches CBS settlement
Tony Romo and CBS Sports ended their 9-year broadcasting relationship on Oct. 2, 2026. Multiple reports say the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback reached a financial settlement with the network.
Romo reportedly had 4 years and $72 million remaining on his CBS contract when the sides separated. The exact settlement amount has not been publicly disclosed, leaving the final financial terms private.
Romo had $72 million remaining
Tony Romo entered the 2026 NFL season with $72 million remaining on his CBS contract over the next 4 years. The network later placed him on leave during the season.
CBS and Romo ended their relationship before the contract expired. Reporting indicates CBS preferred paying a substantial portion of the remaining money rather than fighting Romo over the contract.
Romo signed a $180 million deal
Tony Romo agreed to a 10-year CBS contract reportedly worth $180 million in 2020, an average value of $18 million per year. CBS announced the long-term extension in February.
Romo had joined CBS in 2017 as its lead NFL game analyst after leaving the Dallas Cowboys. His early broadcasts drew attention for detailed analysis and his ability to anticipate plays.
CBS and Romo mutually parted ways
CBS Sports announced Oct. 2 that Tony Romo and the network had mutually agreed to part ways. The network thanked him for his contributions during his 9 years with CBS.
The announcement ended Romo’s run as the network’s lead NFL game analyst, a role he began in 2017. CBS did not publicly disclose the amount of his reported financial settlement.
J.J. Watt keeps the lead CBS role
J.J. Watt will remain alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS Sports’ lead NFL broadcast team for the rest of the 2026 season.
CBS elevated Watt while Romo was on leave during the 2026 season. The network said its other announcing teams would remain unchanged following Romo’s departure from CBS Sports.
Romo joined CBS after football
Tony Romo joined CBS Sports in 2017 after ending his playing career with the Dallas Cowboys. CBS immediately named him its lead NFL game analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz.
Romo spent his entire 14-season NFL career with Dallas after joining the organization in 2003 and earned 4 Pro Bowl selections. He moved directly into broadcasting after leaving football.
Romo plans to take a break
Tony Romo said after leaving CBS that he plans to take a break and focus on his health and family. He described the pause as something he had never done.
Romo also said he was proud of what he accomplished during 9 years at CBS Sports. His statement did not announce another broadcasting job or provide a timetable for returning.
Romo became CBS lead analyst in 2017
Tony Romo moved directly from the Dallas Cowboys to CBS Sports in 2017. The network placed him alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on its lead NFL broadcast team.
The assignment put Romo on major NFL games immediately after his playing career ended. CBS announced a long-term contract extension in February 2020, following his first 3 seasons.
Fun fact: Tony Romo was officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 7, 2021, as the first player in Eastern Illinois University history to receive the honor.
CBS put Romo on leave in July
CBS placed Tony Romo on indefinite leave on July 31, 2026, while he remained under his long-term broadcasting contract. The move came before the 2026 NFL regular season.
J.J. Watt subsequently joined Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on the network’s lead NFL broadcast team. Watt remained in that role when CBS and Romo separated in October.
Watt stays with Nantz and Wolfson
J.J. Watt will continue working with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on CBS Sports’ lead NFL team for the remainder of 2026. CBS confirmed the arrangement after Romo’s departure.
Watt had already worked with Nantz and Wolfson while Romo was on leave. CBS also said its other NFL announcing teams would remain unchanged for the rest of the season.
Romo spent 9 years at CBS
Tony Romo spent 9 years with CBS Sports, from 2017 to October 2026. He worked as the network’s lead NFL game analyst alongside Jim Nantz.
Romo moved directly from his Dallas Cowboys playing career into CBS’s lead NFL analyst role. The network announced a long-term extension in 2020 after his first 3 seasons.
The $72 million needs context
The reported $72 million represents the amount remaining on Tony Romo’s CBS contract over 4 years when the sides separated. It is not his confirmed financial settlement amount.
Reporting indicates CBS preferred paying a substantial portion of that remaining money rather than fighting over the contract. The exact amount ultimately included in the settlement has not been publicly disclosed.
Romo’s legal situation raised questions about what could come next for his broadcasting career. Explore how Tony Romo learned his CBS future after his OWI arrest and what the network decided.
CBS begins its post Romo era
CBS Sports will use J.J. Watt alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on its lead NFL broadcast team for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to the network.
Tony Romo leaves CBS after 9 years as an NFL analyst. Romo said he will take a break and focus on his health and family before pursuing his next opportunity.
Romo’s absence from a major CBS event raised fresh questions about his standing with the network. Reports of Tony Romo being barred from CBS NFL Media Day shed more light on the decision and its timing.
What do you think about Tony Romo and CBS ending their 9-year partnership? Share your thoughts in the comments on whether CBS made the right move.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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