Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who became the lead football analyst for CBS, is out at the network after nine years, a split CBS Sports announced on Friday, October 2, about two months after his drunk-driving arrest in Wisconsin. Reports say roughly $72 million was left on his contract.
Story Highlights
- CBS Sports said it and Romo “mutually agreed to part ways” after nine years.
- Romo pleaded no contest on Sept. 1 to an OWI charge in Wisconsin. OWI means operating while intoxicated, the state’s term for drunk driving.
- J.J. Watt, the former NFL defensive end who filled in during Romo’s leave, keeps the lead analyst seat.
- Romo said he will take a break and focus on his health and his family.
What CBS Announced And Why It Happened
The network’s statement was two sentences long. “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.” CBS gave no reason. What is on the record is the order of events. Romo was arrested on July 23 near Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. CBS placed him on leave after the arrest. He entered his plea on Sept. 1. One month later, the leave became permanent.
Tony Romo and CBS Sports have mutually agreed to part ways following the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback’s OWI arrest and subsequent plea deal.
CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways after nine years, the network announced Friday.
“We thank Tony for his… pic.twitter.com/IQ5NyW3RQ8
— One America News (@OANN) October 3, 2026
Viewers have already heard the change. J.J. Watt moved into Romo’s chair while Romo was on leave, working beside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the network’s top NFL crew. CBS said Watt will stay in that role for the rest of the season and that its other broadcast teams are not changing.
The Legal Facts Of The OWI Case
Romo pleaded no contest on Sept. 1 to operating while intoxicated. A no-contest plea means a person does not fight the charge and accepts the penalty without formally admitting guilt. A first OWI offense in Wisconsin is handled as a civil offense, not a crime. Romo lost his driving privileges for six months and must complete an alcohol assessment. Reports on the arrest said deputies noted red, glassy eyes and the smell of alcohol, that Romo did poorly on field sobriety tests, and that an open container was found in the vehicle.
Romo took responsibility in a statement on the day of his plea. He said several back surgeries “left me with constant, debilitating pain,” that the pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and that his efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol. “None of this is an excuse,” he said. “These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.” He also said then that he planned to return to CBS. The network’s announcement on October 2 closed that door.
The Money, The Booth, And The Brand
Romo signed a 10-year contract reported at $180 million in 2020. Reports say about four years and roughly $72 million were left on it when the split was announced. Neither side has released what Romo will be paid on the way out, and CBS did not mention money in its statement.
Romo spoke on the day of the split as well. “I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years,” he said. “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.” His run in the booth began in 2017, right after a playing career spent entirely with Dallas, and his early seasons drew high praise for calling plays before they happened. CBS did not cite his on-air work in its statement.
Why People On Both Sides Care
Many fans see a moment like this as a big company protecting its image first. The phrase “mutually agreed to part ways” is polite, and it says nothing about how the decision was made or what it cost. People who have watched lawyers and public relations teams shape other exits hear that line and fill in the rest themselves.
The record matters too. Romo’s plea and his own words describe a serious lapse and a hard personal fight. Many American families know what pain medication and alcohol can do to someone they love. They want accountability, and they also want a real path back. A network has to protect its name. A person has to own his mistakes and heal. Both things are true here, and Romo has said plainly which part is his.
Sources:
zerohedge.com, espn.com, nfl.com, usatoday.com, cbsnews.com, nbcdfw.com, nbcnews.com, nytimes.com, inquirer.com, people.com
