Tony Romo’s million-dollar contract with CBS questioned after he stopped doing what he did best

Tony Romo emerged in 2017 as a revolutionary NFL analyst, predicting plays before they happened and energizing CBS‘s top booth as his insight transformed game broadcasts – but now that appears to be a long time ago.

The old Romo made sports a must-watch experience for football fans nationwide with an almost clairvoyant ability to predict what teams were going to do and when, part of why in 2020, CBS rewarded him with a 10-year, $180 million contract.

That made him the highest-paid analyst in television history. Romo‘s ability to read defenses and anticipate plays made the deal seem justified at the time, but five years later, that contract is being questioned.

During Sunday’s Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos game on November 16, offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia ripped Malcolm Roach‘s helmet off, but Romo treated the blatant penalty as a comedic moment rather than analyzing its impact.

“Hey, that helmet. Take your helmet off. Give it to me. Give it to me,” Romo said. “There you go, thank ya. Yeah, you can’t do that. That’s not allowed.”

Suamataia grabbed Roach‘s helmet mid-rush, committing a blatant penalty that reflected poor discipline in the Chiefs‘ offensive line. The broadcast could have highlighted broader offensive issues instead of becoming a routine comedy bit.

The incident underscores a decline and signs of a man comfortable in his role, as he no longer predicts plays with the precision that made him essential. The moment demanded focus and insight into the Chiefs‘ offensive struggles as the three-time Super Bowl winners continue to slump, yet viewers received a jester’s performance instead of calculated analysis.

The predictive analysis that once defined Romo‘s broadcasts has diminished, as he now praises incomplete passes as “winning plays,” particularly from quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, as critics point out his decline.

Did CBS fail to learn from their lessons: Stuck with Romo?

CBS‘s decision to retain Romo in the top booth is under scrutiny. Analysts and viewers question whether the network overpaid, as his $18 million annual salary now seems excessive for a broadcast performance that emphasizes humor over insight.

Making matters worse, CBS reportedly conducted an intervention years ago, and Romo even admitted criticism was “warranted” on Cousin Sal‘s podcast, saying, “Maybe I should do these things, maybe they’re right in some ways.”

Despite acknowledging his decline in analytical sharpness, there is a problem: the network locked Romo into a 2030 contract after ESPN interest emerged. At the time, it seemed necessary to retain the most prominent analyst. Five years later, his signature play predictions are largely absent from broadcasts, leaving a noticeable void.

CBS could have followed the Phil Simms model from 2017, moving an analyst to studio segments when performance declined. Romo‘s energy could work in short bursts, paired with a complementary analyst, instead of occupying the primary booth unaltered.

Instead, CBS continues to employ him in the top broadcast role. Viewers are left with extended comedy routines during critical moments, while Romo‘s prior brilliance in predicting defensive schemes has largely disappeared from the commentary.

Sunday’s helmet call was not an isolated event. It demonstrates Romo‘s shift from game-breaking analysis to entertainment, leaving CBS tied to a long-term contract for an analyst whose strengths have faded, raising concerns about network strategy.