Tony Romo spent years building a prominent career as a football broadcaster after retiring from the NFL. His future with CBS is now uncertain after his July OWI arrest and Sept. 1 no-contest plea.
CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave after the arrest, and J.J. Watt has taken his place alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on the network’s lead NFL broadcast team. CBS Sports president David Berson said in August that there was no timetable for a decision on Romo’s future.
Romo’s plea agreement also includes a mandatory jail provision if he is convicted of another qualifying OWI-related offense within 10 years.
The Wisconsin arrest that started it all
Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputies stopped Romo on Interstate 43 near the Marquette Interchange on July 23, 2026, after an unsafe passing maneuver. Romo had been at a golf course earlier that day.
The deputy reported that Romo had red, glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol. Romo told the deputy he had consumed “zero” drinks.
Romo was arrested and later released. Body-camera footage of the traffic stop was subsequently released and showed the interaction with deputies.
The deputy told Romo she had stopped him after he made an unsafe right pass while driving south on I-43. Romo appeared confused about the reason for the stop and said he was on his way to visit his grandparents after spending time at a golf course.
When asked how much he had been drinking, Romo said he had consumed “zero” drinks. He also repeatedly asked about contacting a lawyer during the encounter.
Charges, citations, and the plea deal
Romo received multiple citations stemming from the July 23 traffic stop, including citations related to unsafe passing and an open intoxicant. He ultimately pleaded no contest to the first-offense OWI charge on September 1.
The additional citations were dismissed as part of the case’s resolution. Wisconsin treats a first-offense OWI as a civil violation rather than a criminal offense under the circumstances of Romo’s case.
The traffic stop occurred on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee. Body-camera footage and law-enforcement records later provided additional details about the stop and Romo’s arrest.
Penalties Romo now must face
Romo’s plea agreement includes an $834 fine, a six-month revocation of his driving privileges, an alco*ol assessment program, and a requirement to install an ignition interlock device on his vehicles for 1 year.
The plea agreement also contains a mandatory jail provision if Romo is convicted of another OWI-related offense within the next 10 years. That condition could become significant if he faces another qualifying OWI conviction during that period.
CBS places Romo on indefinite leave
CBS Sports placed Romo on indefinite leave on July 31 following his July 23 arrest. The network said the decision was intended to keep attention focused on its NFL coverage while it evaluated the situation and its potential impact on CBS’s brand.
CBS Sports president David Berson stated in August that there is currently no timetable or final decision regarding Tony Romo’s future with the network, as CBS continues to assess the situation.
JJ Watt steps into the booth
With Romo on indefinite leave, CBS promoted J.J. Watt to its lead NFL analyst role alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. Watt previously worked on CBS’s No. 2 NFL broadcast team.
CBS moved to prepare for Romo’s absence while the network continued to evaluate his future. Watt’s first scheduled lead-team assignment was the September 13 game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.
Whether Watt remains in that prominent role permanently may depend heavily on what CBS ultimately decides about Romo’s uncertain future with the network itself. Nothing has been officially confirmed publicly by either side just yet.
Inside Romo’s massive CBS contract
Romo’s contract with CBS made him one of the highest-paid broadcasters in sports history when it was first announced. The deal stretches across an entire decade of NFL coverage.
That lucrative agreement reportedly pays Romo roughly $18 million each year, leaving a fairly substantial amount still owed on the many remaining seasons of his long-term broadcasting deal with the network.
Buying out that enormous contract would prove extremely costly for CBS, which is part of why many insiders expect quiet private negotiations rather than an immediate, public parting of ways between them.
Little-known fact: Jim Nantz gave Tony Romo the nickname “Romostradamus” during the 2019 AFC Championship Game after Romo accurately predicted several plays.
What comes next for Romo
Romo has publicly acknowledged full responsibility for the arrest and said he has been actively working with doctors on his health. That honest admission has shaped some of the public sympathy surrounding his own situation.
CBS has not yet officially announced a final decision on his contract or his eventual return to the broadcast booth for future football seasons. Executives continue to describe the entire process as ongoing and still evolving.
Whatever happens next, Romo’s upcoming court-related steps and CBS’s eventual public statement will likely shape the rest of his broadcasting career. Fans and industry insiders are watching very closely for future updates.
TL;DR
- Romo was arrested for OWI in Milwaukee on July 23, 2026, near the Marquette Interchange.
- He pleaded no contest to the first-offense OWI charge on Sept. 1.
- His penalties include a six-month revocation of his driving privileges, an ignition interlock requirement, and completion of an alcohol assessment program.
- His plea agreement includes a mandatory jail provision if he is convicted of another qualifying OWI-related offense within 10 years.
- CBS placed him on indefinite leave and has not announced a timetable for a final decision on his future.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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