Tony Romo and CBS Sports have ended their nine-year partnership, with both sides issuing statements confirming the mutual decision following Romo's recent OWI arrest and plea deal. Romo's departure from CBS means he will miss the rest of the NFL season, though a source indicates there was an agreement that includes financial compensation for him; however, the exact amount is unspecified. The article suggests that despite this setback, Romo could make a comeback in broadcasting similar to his career revivals as an NFL player, given his talent and popularity compared to other analysts.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Tony Romo, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, has ended his nine-year run as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports after being arrested in July on suspicion of operating while intoxicated (OWI) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave following the arrest and legal proceedings. He had four years remaining on a 10-year, $180 million contract but will now receive a significant portion of the $72 million left on it. Romo cited health concerns and family focus for his decision to step away from broadcasting temporarily. JJ Watt has taken over as part of CBS's top announcing team alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson, replacing Romo during the rest of this season.
Written for “Tony Romo Leaves CBS Sports” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.
Tony Romo and CBS Sports have mutually agreed to part ways, which was expected following the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback's OWI arrest and plea deal in July and September.
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which → agree → July
But history suggests Romo will eventually be able to do in the broadcast booth what he did 25 times with the Cowboys: author a comeback.
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he → suggest → comeback
That assumes he wants to do that, which seems likely.
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which → assume → that
First the news announced by both CBS Sports and Romo in separate statements:
"CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways," CBS said in a statement on Friday.
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CBS → announce → Friday
"We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.
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We → thank → best
"J.J. Watt will continue to partner with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on our lead NFL announce team for the rest of the season."
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Watt → continue → season
Said Romo in his own statement:
"I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years.
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I → say → years
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.
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I → approach → desire
"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.
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I → go → opportunity
This needs some context.
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This → need → context
Romo and CBS negotiated this separation and a source said there was an agreement that includes payments to Romo.
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that → negotiate → Romo
The source declined to be specific on the amount that Romo will receive.
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Romo → decline → that
Romo signed a 10-year contract in 2020 worth a reported $180 million.
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Romo → sign → 2020
He had four years, including this one, remaining on the deal.
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He → have → deal
The remaining portion of that was worth approximately $70-$75 million.
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portion → remain → that
So Romo's Wisconsin intoxication folly almost definitely cost him a lot of money.
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folly → cost → money
But the obvious misstep doesn't need to be thought of as a permanent misstep, if Romo indeed gets himself sorted and wants to return to an NFL analyst chair.
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himself → need → chair
He is unquestionably better than the lower-tier game and pregame analysts currently employed by the networks and streaming services.
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He → employ → networks
He's also a bigger name who, oddly, gains more attention because of his arrest.
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who → gain → arrest
So, it is quite possible that after some time away, Romo will be able to return in one of those roles.
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Romo → return → roles
And there is precedent for such a return because Romo is not the first flawed NFL analyst who faced legal troubles and worked again.
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who → be → troubles
- Charles Barkley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor driving under the influence (DUI) charges in February 2009.
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Barkley → plead → February
He took a short leave from TNT, apologized publicly, but eventually returned to "Inside the NBA."
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He → take → NBA
- Al Michaels was arrested on suspicion of DUI in 2013.
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Michaels → arrest → 2013
He struck a plea deal with prosecutors, pleading no contest to the lesser charge of reckless driving.
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He → strike → driving
Michaels was not taken off the Sunday Night Football broadcast as a result.
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Michaels → take → result
- Marv Albert (remember him?) pleaded guilty in 1997 to misdemeanor assault and battery after sexual-assault allegations.
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Albert → remember → allegations
NBC fired him but rehired him less than two years later.
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NBC → fire → him
Romo, 46, is currently without driving privileges, which were revoked for six months, he must complete an alcohol-assessment program, install an ignition-interlock device, and he's already paid court costs and fees.
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he → revoke → costs
Eventually, TV may be comfortable with believing he has also paid the debt for his crime and welcome him back.
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he → believe → him
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