Tony Romo Could Still Collect Millions From CBS After Settlement With $72 Million Left on His Contract

Tony Romo could receive a substantial portion of the approximately $72 million (£54.4 million) remaining on his CBS contract under a financial settlement reported by The Athletic's Andrew Marchand. The settlement amount has not been disclosed, and CBS has not publicly confirmed the payment terms.

CBS announced on Friday, 2 October 2026, that the network and Romo had 'mutually agreed to part ways', ending his nine-year tenure as its lead NFL analyst. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback had been on leave following his July arrest in Wisconsin for operating while intoxicated.

Four Years Remained on Romo's Contract

Romo had approximately four years remaining on the 10-year, $180 million (£136 million) contract he signed with CBS in 2020, according to Marchand's reporting. The contract was reported to be worth approximately $18 million (£13.6 million) per year when its full value and reported additional compensation were taken into account.

The deal followed interest from ESPN, which had sought to pursue Romo before CBS retained him. The contract made Romo the highest-paid NFL television analyst at the time.

Marchand reported that CBS preferred to pay a substantial portion of the remaining money rather than dispute the contract with Romo. His reporting on the settlement cited industry sources who were not authorised to discuss the negotiations.

The reported $72 million (£54.4 million) represents the remaining scheduled value of the contract, not a confirmed settlement payment. Neither Romo nor CBS has disclosed how much of that balance Romo will receive.

Arrest Followed by No-Contest Plea

Romo was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin on 23 July. He pleaded no contest to operating while intoxicated on 1 September.

Court records cited by the Associated Press showed that Romo's driving privileges were revoked for six months and that he was ordered to complete an alcohol assessment programme. The first-offence OWI was classified as a civil offence under Wisconsin law.

In a public statement following the plea, Romo said pain after multiple back surgeries had led to a dependence on pain medication. He said efforts to stop taking the medication had resulted in an 'over-reliance on alcohol'.

'None of this is an excuse,' he said. 'These are my failures and I take responsibility for them.'

CBS placed Romo on leave following his arrest. His absence continued into the 2026 NFL season before the network announced its decision to part ways with him on 2 October.

Contract Included a Reported Morals Clause

Marchand previously reported that Romo's contract included a morals clause. The precise wording and conditions governing its use have not been publicly disclosed.

In commentary published by NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio argued that enforcing such a clause solely on the basis of the OWI arrest and no-contest plea could have been difficult. That was Florio's assessment and not a court ruling or publicly disclosed legal position from CBS.

Florio also discussed possible settlement amounts but explicitly described his figures as estimates. Those figures do not establish the value of the agreement or the proportion of the remaining contract balance Romo secured.

The public reporting therefore establishes that a financial settlement was reached while leaving its terms undisclosed. It does not establish that CBS was contractually required to pay Romo the full remaining balance or that the network had an unconditional right to terminate the agreement without compensation.

J.J. Watt To Remain Alongside Nantz And Wolfson

J.J. Watt, who replaced Romo during his absence, will continue alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS's lead NFL team for the remainder of the 2026 season. Romo had held the analyst role since joining the network in 2017.

In his departure statement on 2 October, Romo said he would 'focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity'. He also said he was proud of his work at CBS over the previous nine years.