Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo was arrested by Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputies following a July 23 traffic stop. Body-camera footage and official records later provided additional details about the incident. Romo, 46, had competed in the final round of the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship earlier that day.
According to the arrest report, Romo performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests before deputies took him into custody on suspicion of first-offense OWI. CBS Sports later placed him on leave until further notice.
Traffic stop unfolds during rush hour
A Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy pulled Romo over near the Marquette Interchange shortly after 6 p.m. on July 23. The stop occurred during evening rush hour. The deputy cited unsafe passing on the right and crossing a restricted section of the roadway as reasons for the stop.
Body camera audio captured Romo and the deputy having difficulty hearing each other over the noise of passing traffic. The deputy said they would need to speak loudly to communicate.
Romo said he had been driving south on Interstate 43 after leaving a golf course where he had competed in a tournament. He told the deputy he was heading to visit his grandparents.
Field sobriety tests raise concerns
After the initial stop, a deputy instructed Romo to exit his vehicle. Body-camera footage shows him repeatedly asking to contact his lawyer.
Deputies took Romo to the Milwaukee County Jail sally port, where they administered standardized field sobriety tests. According to the arrest report, Romo performed poorly on the tests and was taken into custody on suspicion of first-offense OWI.
The released footage shows portions of the traffic stop and testing process. The case remains pending.
Romo refused the requested breath and blood tests
Body-camera footage shows Romo declining a preliminary breath test and later refusing a requested blood test. Court records show that he received a separate citation for refusing a chemical test after arrest.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. No blood-alcohol test result had been publicly announced as of Aug. 6.
In Wisconsin, a standard first-offense OWI is generally handled as a civil traffic offense. Refusing a chemical test can trigger separate consequences, including a mandatory 1-year driver’s license revocation for a first refusal.
The golf tournament preceded the arrest
Romo completed the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship at West Bend Country Club before the traffic stop. The tournament ran from July 20 through July 23, and he finished tied for 73rd at 35-over par.
After news of the arrest became public, Romo withdrew from the Texas State Open, which was scheduled to begin July 28 in Tyler, Texas. Cascades Country Club confirmed his withdrawal.
Golf has remained a major interest for Romo since his NFL retirement. He has competed in numerous celebrity and amateur events, including the Wisconsin State Amateur and Texas State Open.
Fun fact: Romo has won the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament 3 times, most recently in 2022.
Booking and release from custody
Romo was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail at 9:47 p.m. on July 23 and released at 11:01 p.m. under a book-and-release procedure.
He was cited for first-offense OWI, which Wisconsin generally handles as a civil traffic offense rather than a criminal charge. First-offense penalties can include a forfeiture and driver’s license revocation, while subsequent offenses can carry more severe consequences.
CBS Sports later placed Romo on leave until further notice and announced that JJ Watt would join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on its lead NFL broadcast team during Romo’s absence.
Career built on Cowboys legacy
Romo spent 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He became the team’s starting quarterback during the 2006 season and earned 4 Pro Bowl selections.
A preseason back injury in 2016 opened the door for rookie Dak Prescott to take over the starting role. Romo appeared in 1 regular-season game that year before the Cowboys released him in April 2017, when he left football to become CBS Sports’ lead NFL analyst.
Romo went 2-4 in 6 playoff starts and never advanced beyond the divisional round. In a wild-card loss to Seattle following the 2006 season, he mishandled the snap on a potential go-ahead field-goal attempt, recovered the ball and was tackled short after trying to run.
Broadcasting career reaches new heights
After leaving football in 2017, Romo joined CBS Sports as its lead NFL game analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. He became known for an energetic style and for anticipating plays before they unfolded.
The trio began working together in 2017 and called 3 Super Bowls: Super Bowl LIII, Super Bowl LV and Super Bowl LVIII.
CBS Sports has since placed Romo on leave until further notice. The network announced that JJ Watt would join Nantz and Wolfson on its lead NFL broadcast team during Romo’s absence.
What comes next in the case
Romo is scheduled for a court appearance in Milwaukee on Sept. 21, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. The date falls on the Monday of NFL Week 2, when the Giants-Rams game is scheduled to air on ESPN.
CBS Sports has placed Romo on leave until further notice and announced that JJ Watt will work with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson during his absence. The OWI matter remains pending ahead of the scheduled court date.
Little-known fact: In 2010, weather delays pushed a U.S. Open sectional qualifier into the following day, and Romo withdrew because the Cowboys were returning to practice.
Little-known fact: After weather delays pushed a 2010 U.S. Open sectional qualifier into the following day, Romo withdrew because the Cowboys had an organized team activity scheduled that Tuesday.
TL;DR
- Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while intoxicated on July 23.
- Body camera footage showed the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, and his eventual arrest.
- Romo refused an intoxication test, leading to a separate citation and a blood draw warrant.
- He withdrew from an upcoming Texas golf tournament following news of the Wisconsin arrest.
- Romo faces a court date on September 21, the same week as NFL Week 2.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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