Tony Romo has parted ways with CBS Sports, and he’s expected to collect most of the $72 million remaining on his broadcasting contract despite the split, according to The Athletic.
The two sides reportedly settled the financial terms on Friday, shortly before the breakup was announced publicly. Romo had four years and $72 million left on the 10-year, $180 million deal he signed with the network.
His exit follows an OWI arrest in Milwaukee in July, which had fueled more than two months of speculation about whether CBS would keep him on. The network placed Romo on leave after the arrest, before any legal process had played out.
CBS Sports president David Berson addressed the decision in August, ahead of the NFL season, citing concerns about the company’s reputation.
“In making this decision, we have to consider the impact on our image and our brand,” Berson said. “That’s very important to us. The focus should be and needs to be on our presentation and this great product and not on any other factors. Fortunately, we have a deep bench, and I’m really proud of the way everybody is stepping up and responding.”
With a payout of that size on the table, some had speculated CBS might try to invoke a morality clause to avoid paying Romo in full. That doesn’t appear to be what happened, though the exact terms and how long negotiations took remain unclear.
Romo released his own statement Friday through The Post.
“I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years,” Romo said. “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. 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. 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.”
CBS issued a brief statement of its own: “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
Romo joined CBS’s broadcast booth and built a reputation early on for his uncanny ability to call plays before they happened. Over time, though, some viewers soured on his style, and critics argued he never evolved much as a broadcaster. He had a 14-season NFL playing career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2016, earning just over $127 million on the field, according to Spotrac.
JJ Watt, who stepped in as CBS’s top color analyst ahead of Week 1, will remain in that role going forward.
