Darby Brown Has Departed CBS Austin Sports

The sports anchor and reporter has left the Austin station to join 12News in Phoenix.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Football

Darby Brown Has Departed CBS Austin Sports

Longtime sports journalist Darby Brown has concluded her tenure at CBS Austin after serving as a key member of the local sports team since 2024. She announced her upcoming move to 12News in Phoenix via social media on her final day with the station.

Why it matters

The move marks a significant career milestone for Brown, who has long expressed a desire to return to her native state of Arizona. Her departure creates a vacancy within the local sports broadcast landscape in Austin.

Brown joined the Austin station in October 2024, concluding her tenure on September 28, 2026. Her career path includes prior roles as a sports director at KWTX in Waco and as a reporter for NewsWest 9 in Midland.

The players

Darby Brown

She is a broadcast journalist who previously worked as a sports director in Waco and reported in Midland before joining the CBS Austin team.

CBS Austin

This local television station provides news and sports coverage to the Austin, Texas market.

12News

This is a television news station located in Phoenix, Arizona, that will be Brown's new employer.

The details

Brown confirmed her departure to her audience through an Instagram post shared on her final day at the station. She is set to begin her new role in Phoenix early next week.

Darby Brown graduated from Chapman University in 2017.
Brown joined the CBS Austin team in October 2024.
Her final day at CBS Austin was September 28, 2026.
She begins her new position at 12News in early October 2026.

Season Trajectory

Brown's exit follows the established pattern of broadcast professionals moving through regional markets to secure roles in their home regions. This shift reflects the ongoing competitive balance in local news staffing as reporters seek positions in larger metropolitan areas.

Local viewers can expect to see a new face covering regional sports events following the departure of a lead anchor. Brown's transition effectively concludes her two-year stint reporting on Austin-area athletics.

The takeaway

Journalists often navigate multiple regional stations before securing a role in their home market. This career path highlights the importance of localized reporting experience in building a professional reputation in the broadcast industry.