Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports broadcaster Tony Romo entered a no contest plea on Tuesday to a first-offense charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The resolution follows his July 23 arrest by Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputies along Interstate 43. Under Wisconsin state law, a first-offense OWI is categorized as a civil forfeiture rather than a criminal conviction.
The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. as Romo was traveling south across a high-rise bridge. Authorities pulled him over after observing traffic violations and subsequently performed standardized field sobriety tests. According to law enforcement reports, Romo failed the sobriety assessments and refused a breathalyzer test at the scene. Body camera footage released by authorities captured the 46-year-old explaining that he was returning from a golf tournament in West Bend and heading to visit family members in the area.
According to online judicial records, the court ordered Romo to pay a fine of $784, undergo a mandatory alcohol assessment program, and install an ignition interlock device on his vehicles. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months. In exchange for his plea, three additional civil citations—which included driving with an open container and making an unsafe lane pass—were formally dismissed.
Addressing the legal conclusion publicly on social media, Romo broke his silence in a statement on social media: “Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life. I played for more than 20 years, including 14 in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close to the game through broadcasting. Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better. This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me. This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely. Multiple back surgeries ended by 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. As I have taught my three young sons: when you fall short, you stand up and take full responsibility. That is an important first step. The harder and more important step is examining the path that brought you here and making the changes necessary to move forward. That path requires honesty. None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them. The past month has been difficult, but it had also been personally significant. It has required me to confront and own my mistakes fully — to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public. I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes. I am deeply grateful for the support of my family, my friends, and the NFL community including players, coaches, and owners. Your encouragement has meant more than you know. As I turn my attention to my health, my family, and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period.”
Following the initial incident, CBS Sports placed Romo on an indefinite leave of absence from his role as the network’s lead NFL color commentator. Analyst J.J. Watt is scheduled to fill his position alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz when network coverage resumes on September 13.
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