Tony Romo, the former NFL star turned CBS broadcaster, has publicly addressed his unexpected OWI arrest in Milwaukee for the first time.
Romo, 46, was stopped while driving his Jeep on July 23 and was later charged with operating while intoxicated after struggling through field sobriety tests. Bodycam video from the stop soon spread widely online, bringing intense scrutiny to the incident.
For weeks, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback remained silent as questions mounted over his broadcasting future and his reported $18 million-a-year contract with CBS.
That silence ended Thursday night, when a representative for Romo told TMZ: ‘Tony accepts full responsibility for his actions and has taken proactive steps to ensure that this isolated civil matter is properly resolved.’
CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave following the arrest, with JJ Watt stepping in as a temporary replacement. Romo’s camp has now confirmed that discussions are continuing with the network about what comes next.
‘We are working with local authorities to bring this matter to a close and we are communicating with CBS about next steps,’ the spokesperson added.
Tony Romo has addressed his OWI arrest in Milwaukee for the first time since the July incident
Romo has been away from his CBS role since the OWI arrest in his native Wisconsin
Romo’s first comments on the incident come just hours after three new citations were added to his drunk-driving arrest.
In addition to the original OWI charge, he has been hit with first-offense operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing on the right side, and possessing open intoxicants inside his vehicle.
Romo is due in court for his four citations on September 21, which is two weeks into an NFL season that he currently has no idea whether he’ll be covering.
He was on his way home from a golf tournament in Milwaukee when he was pulled over by cops last month, telling them he had not had anything to drink and was on his way to visit ‘Grandma and Grandpa’.
A police report later revealed that an officer found an ‘open bottle of an alcoholic beverage’ on the passenger side of his black Jeep vehicle.
The NFL quarterback legend poses for a photo with his wife Candice at a 2023 golf tournament
CBS executives are still weighing their next move after Romo’s embarrassing OWI arrest
The analyst earns $18m a year with the network but JJ Watt is stepping up to take his place
A week on from his arrest, CBS placed him on leave and Romo has been keeping a low profile ever since.
CBS Sports president David Berson, meanwhile, spoke to the media ahead of the NFL season and confirmed that the network has no immediate plans for Romo to return to TV screens.
‘It’s an evolving situation and therefore we are still assessing,’ he said on August 11. ‘There is no timetable or final decision at this time.
‘I hope you can respect and appreciate this is a personnel matter and a legal one for Tony, so I can’t speak to that aspect of things.’
Romo is owed $72m over the next four years of his current contract, putting the network in a precarious position as they decide what to do next.
On the air, Romo’s work as the lead color analyst for the NFL on CBS has become increasingly divisive with fans.
As he approaches what would be his 10th season with the network, he has been facing calls to step down after being criticized for his strange affectations and errors in commentary.
Whether it was confusing Josh Allen for Patrick Mahomes, letting out a bizarre groan during the Bills-Jaguars game or calling a 4th & 1 carry like a first-down, Romo had his share of blunders in last season’s playoffs alone.
Romo said he felt unwell during the Bills-Jaguars incident, explaining: ‘We had a bunch of guys sick, we were just grinding through it. You’re not going to miss a playoff game.’
Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson, is married to wife Candice, a past Miss Missouri
In December 2023, at the height of ‘Tayvis’ Mania, Romo bizarrely addressed Taylor Swift as the wife of Travis Kelce while she watched him play for the Kansas City Chiefs.
It came long before the couple announced their engagement back in August of 2025 and got married last month.
Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson from 2007 to 2009, is married to Candice Crawford Romo, a former broadcast journalist and past Miss Missouri. They have three children.
Romo’s OWI charge carries a $1,066 fine on top of the $235 penalty he received for his moving violation.
