Tony Romo and CBS Sports ‘Reached a Financial Settlement,’ Had $72 Million Remaining on His Contract

Tony Romo is reportedly walking away from his analyst gig at CBS Sports with a nice chunk of change.

On Friday, October 2, The Athletic reported that Romo, 46, and the network “reached a financial settlement before Friday’s announcement,” according to sources.

The outlet reported that the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback — who joined the network as an NFL game analyst in 2017 — signed a 10-year, $180 million contract with CBS in 2020 and had four years and $72 million left, noting that since they didn’t involve the courts, Romo “will likely be paid a good portion of the remaining money he was owed.”

As First for Sports previously reported, on Friday, October 2, CBS Sports announced it “mutually agreed to part ways” with Romo and that J.J. Watt will continue on its lead NFL broadcast team, alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson per ESPN.

“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,” Romo said in a statement obtained by ESPN Friday. “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.”

The broadcaster was placed on indefinite leave from CBS Sports in July after he was arrested in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

In September, the retired NFL player pleaded no contest to the OWI charge and, as a result, has his driving privileges revoked for six months, was ordered to complete an alcohol assessment program, and to have an ignition interlock device installed on vehicles he owns or operates, per court records obtained by Associated Press.

In an Instagram post that day, Romo took accountability for his actions.

“This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely,” he wrote. “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.”