Tony Romo has broken his silence following his OWI arrest in Wisconsin in late July, an incident that led CBS to place the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current NFL analyst on indefinite leave. Romo was pulled over by police after leaving a golf course in Milwaukee while he was in the area for a golf tournament. He reportedly failed a field sobriety test and had an open container in his vehicle, with bodycam footage from the arrest later released publicly. The incident came as a surprise to the football world and has also become a major talking point ahead of the new NFL season.
In a post on Instagram, Romo said he pleaded no contest to a civil offense and took full responsibility for his actions. He opened up about his personal struggles, revealing that he had been abusing alcohol while trying to stop using pain medication prescribed after injuries suffered during his NFL career. Romo also expressed regret over the incident and said he is looking forward to eventually returning to his role with CBS.
Tony Romo Opens Up About OWI Charge and Personal Struggles
Tony Romo has addressed his recent OWI case in Wisconsin for the first time since his arrest, taking responsibility for the incident and opening up about the personal issues that contributed to it. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback revealed that he pleaded no contest to a civil OWI offense and said he considers accountability an important part of moving forward. “This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely,” Romo said in a statement on his Instagram account.
Romo also spoke candidly about the injuries that brought his NFL career to an earlier end than he had anticipated. He said multiple back surgeries left him dealing with severe, ongoing pain, eventually leading to a dependence on pain medication. His attempt to move away from those medications, he explained, resulted in an unhealthy reliance on alcohol. “Multiple back surgeries ended my 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.”
Romo said accepting responsibility is only the beginning of addressing what happened, stressing that he now needs to understand the circumstances that led to the incident and make meaningful changes. “That path requires honesty.” Romo added that taking responsibility and accountability for his actions 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,” Romo said.
The CBS NFL analyst said he is currently “working closely with a team of doctors” as he focuses on his health. He also thanked his family, friends and members of the wider NFL community for their support, while asking for privacy as he works through the situation. “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,” Romo said to end the statement.
J.J. Watt Set to Replace Tony Romo at CBS
With Romo on indefinite leave, CBS Sports has turned to former Houston Texans star and fellow analyst J.J. Watt to fill his spot on the network’s top NFL broadcast team alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz. Watt is scheduled to make his debut in the role during Week 1 when the Green Bay Packers face the Minnesota Vikings.
CBS Sports president David Berson previously said the situation surrounding Romo was “evolving” as the network continued to evaluate the circumstances. While acknowledging the challenge of reshuffling broadcast teams and schedules so close to the start of the NFL season, Berson said CBS had enough depth to adjust.
“We have to consider the impact on our image and our brand,” Berson noted. “That’s very important to us. The focus should be and needs to be on our presentation and this great product and not on any others. Fortunately, we have a deep bench and everybody is stepping up.” Romo remains under the 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with CBS in 2020, leaving the door open for a potential return during the 2026 NFL season.
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