Tony Romo has entered a new phase of his legal situation after pleading no contest to an OWI charge stemming from his July arrest in Wisconsin. In a public statement, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback said chronic pain from football injuries and multiple back surgeries led to a dependence on pain medication and later an over-reliance on alcohol.
CBS Sports placed Romo on indefinite leave after his arrest, leaving his future with the network uncertain. J.J. Watt has stepped into CBS’s lead NFL broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson during Romo’s absence.
Romo has accepted responsibility for his actions and said he is working with medical professionals while focusing on his health and family. He has also expressed hope about returning to CBS, but the network has not announced whether or when he will return to the broadcast booth.
Romo pleads no contest to Wisconsin charge
Romo pleaded no contest on September 1 to a civil charge of operating while intoxicated stemming from his July 23 arrest in Wisconsin. He initially faced additional citations connected to the same traffic stop.
The additional citations involved unsafe passing on the right side, possessing open intoxicants, and refusing a sobriety test. Those citations were dismissed as part of the case.
Romo’s penalties include a six-month loss of driving privileges, an alcohol assessment program, an ignition interlock requirement, and financial penalties.
A spokesperson for Romo released a statement days before his own public remarks. The statement said Romo accepts full responsibility for his actions and has taken proactive steps to resolve the matter. It also noted his team was communicating with CBS about next steps.
Romo later posted his own message on Instagram directly addressing the arrest. He explained that football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of his life, including 14 seasons with the Cowboys. He also expressed hope that he would return to CBS in time.
His language suggested optimism about repairing his relationship with the network. He asked for privacy as he turned his attention to his health, his family, and his eventual return to CBS. He said honesty was required for him to move forward from this point.
CBS Sports responds with public silence
CBS has not issued a new statement since Romo shared his own message. The network instead pointed reporters back to its earlier release, confirming Romo was on leave until further notice. That earlier release remains the only official word from the company.
Reports from Puck’s John Ourand note that Romo’s statement was not coordinated with CBS leadership beforehand. Ourand described the lack of coordination as evidence of a rift between the two sides. CBS has not issued a follow-up statement since the report surfaced.
Ourand reported that a return to CBS still appears unlikely at this point. The network appears to be moving forward with its coverage plans regardless. CBS has given no indication that a final decision is close.
Contract dispute could reshape the fallout
Romo’s deal with CBS was valued at about $17 million per year when it began in 2020. He is reportedly still owed four years and roughly $72 million under that agreement. That figure adds real financial weight to the ongoing dispute.
CBS could use a morals clause in Romo’s contract to exit the remaining term of the deal. Such clauses often let networks part ways after legal trouble arises. Whether that clause fully applies here remains unclear at this stage.
Neither side has publicly commented on whether legal action could follow. CBS has not confirmed if it plans to invoke the clause at this time. The financial dispute remains unresolved as both parties continue talks in private.
CBS Sports has tapped J.J. Watt to pick up duties alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. He is set to call the network’s first Sunday football telecast of the season on September 13. The assignment places him directly in the seat Romo once held.
Watt retired from playing football only recently before joining the broadcast team. His transition mirrors the path Romo once took after his own playing days ended. Fans have shown curiosity about how his commentary style will compare over time.
Variety reported that Watt’s strong debut would make it easier for CBS to move forward without Romo. The network has given Watt a clear opportunity to prove himself early in the season. His performance in the coming weeks may factor into any final decision.
Fun fact: Romo won the Walter Payton Award in 2002 as the top offensive player in FCS football.
Pain medication led to reliance
Romo said multiple back surgeries ended his NFL career earlier than he expected and left him with constant, debilitating pain. He said that pain led to a dependence on pain medication.
Romo said his efforts to get off pain medication later led to an over-reliance on alcohol. He described the situation as a personal failure and said he is working closely with medical professionals to address his health.
He also made clear that his medical history did not excuse his actions and accepted responsibility for the choices that led to his arrest.
Retired players face similar opioid struggles
A Washington University study surveyed 644 retired NFL players and found that 52% had used opioids during their NFL careers. Among those former players who had used opioids, 71% reported misuse during their playing careers.
The study found that 7% of all surveyed former players were currently using opioids, a rate reported as higher than that of the general population at the time.
Significant pain, undiagnosed concussions, and heavy drinking were among the factors associated with current opioid use or misuse. The findings highlight the long-term risks that pain and prescription drug exposure can pose after a football career ends.
Romo has already entered his no-contest plea and received penalties in the Wisconsin case, while CBS has begun the NFL season with J.J. Watt on its lead broadcast team.
Little-known fact: Tony Romo went undrafted in 2003 before becoming the Cowboys’ starting quarterback.
TL;DR
- Romo pleaded no contest to his July OWI charge and faces a September 21 court date.
- His spokesperson said he accepts full responsibility and is working to resolve the matter.
- CBS has offered no public comment and has not lifted his leave from the network.
- J.J. Watt will call CBS’s September 13 season opener in Romo’s former seat.
- Reports suggest tension between Romo’s camp and CBS over the $72 million left on his contract.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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