Tony Romo arrested in Milwaukee on suspicion of driving under the influence
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current lead NFL analyst for the CBS television network Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office record, 46-year-old Romo was stopped on July 23, 2026, while driving southbound on Interstate 43, near the high bridge south of downtown. Local station WTMJ reports that the stop occurred at around 6:18 p.m. and that Romo, according to the official arrest and detention report, performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests. He was then taken to the Milwaukee County detention center, booked and released later that evening. His court date was set for September 21, 2026, while the investigation, according to CBS News, remains ongoing.
At this stage of the proceedings, Romo has not been found responsible, nor has the result of any blood, breath or urine test been publicly released. Authorities have also not disclosed the alleged alcohol concentration, the presence of a controlled substance, the reason his vehicle was initially stopped or whether any other people were in the car. The available information therefore relates exclusively to the suspicion established by law enforcement officers during the stop and the subsequent procedure. In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the designation OWI, meaning "operating while intoxicated", is used for this type of proceeding and covers operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, certain other drugs or a combination of them if the ability to drive safely is impaired. CBS Sports, where Romo works as an analyst, declined to comment on the case.
Stopped on Interstate 43
According to information published by WTMJ, FOX6 Milwaukee and CBS News Texas, Romo was driving southbound on I-43 when he was stopped by members of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. The arrest report obtained by local media states that he was subjected to standardized field sobriety tests and performed poorly on them. Such tests serve as one of the elements police use to assess whether there is reasonable suspicion that a driver is unable to operate a vehicle safely, but they do not in themselves constitute a final judicial determination of responsibility. After the testing, Romo was taken to the county jail, where he went through the booking process before being released. CBS News Texas reported that he was released from custody at around 11 p.m., while other local sources stated that the procedure involved the person being booked and then released pending further court proceedings.
The Sheriff's Office has not released a complete narrative report containing details of the vehicle's behavior before the stop, statements from those involved or any results of chemical testing. This means that it is currently impossible to determine reliably whether the suspicion was related to alcohol, medication, a controlled substance or some combination of those factors. The term OWI in Wisconsin is broader than the common colloquial expression "drunk driving" because it can also refer to other substances that affect the ability to drive. Under state law, it is prohibited to operate a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, a controlled substance or another drug to an extent that renders a person incapable of driving safely. Until the results of additional tests or official court documents are released, any more precise interpretation of the reason for the arrest would be speculation.
Case recorded as suspected first OWI offense
Local media, citing the Sheriff's Office record, report that the incident was recorded as a suspected first OWI offense. Wisconsin differs from most U.S. states in that a first such case, without aggravating circumstances, is generally handled as a civil traffic violation rather than a criminal offense. This does not mean, however, that the proceedings are without potentially serious consequences. According to information from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a person may receive a citation for operating under the influence, a separate citation for a prohibited alcohol concentration or a citation related to the established presence of a restricted controlled substance. The final outcome depends on the evidence, test results, any aggravating circumstances and the decision of the competent court.
The state Department of Transportation states that, following suspicion of OWI, a law enforcement officer may request a blood, breath or urine sample. Refusal of a chemical test may lead to separate proceedings and an intent to revoke the driver's license, while a particular test result may trigger an administrative suspension of driving privileges. If a court finds responsibility, possible consequences include revocation of the driver's license, a mandatory alcohol or drug use assessment and completion of an educational or treatment program for driver safety. An ignition interlock device may be mandatory if the measured alcohol concentration is at least 0.15 or if the driver refused chemical testing. Because neither the test results nor all issued documents have yet been publicly released in Romo's case, it is not possible to determine which of these measures might apply.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest, the issuance of a traffic citation and a final court decision. An arrest means that officers determined there was a legal basis for taking the person into custody, but it does not in itself prove responsibility. Romo will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations, present evidence and use the legal remedies available to him under Wisconsin rules. The court appearance is scheduled for September 21 at 8:30 a.m., according to information published by CBS News Texas. Additional documents may emerge before then, including laboratory results or more precise information about the traffic stop, but as of July 25, 2026, they had not been publicly confirmed.
Returned to Wisconsin for the state amateur golf championship
Romo came to Wisconsin to participate in the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship, one of the most important amateur golf competitions in the state. According to the official schedule of the Wisconsin State Golf Association, the tournament was held from July 20 to 23, 2026, at West Bend Country Club, northwest of Milwaukee. FOX6 Milwaukee reported that Romo finished the competition tied for 73rd place. The arrest occurred on the evening of the tournament's final day, several hours after his appearance and media activities related to the competition. There is no official information connecting the events on the golf course with the later traffic stop, apart from the chronological fact that they occurred on the same day.
Golf has been an important part of Romo's sporting life for years following the end of his NFL career. He has competed in various amateur and celebrity tournaments and has occasionally attempted to qualify for professional events. His participation in the Wisconsin championship also had local significance because he grew up in Burlington, a city southwest of Milwaukee, where he attended high school. The Associated Press reports that Burlington is located approximately 56 kilometers from Milwaukee, so his returns to the state are often followed by increased attention from local media. It was precisely this connection with Wisconsin that further increased interest in a case that, had it not involved one of the most recognizable figures in American football, would probably have remained primarily a local traffic and legal news story.
From undrafted player to the face of the Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo built one of the more notable NFL careers among players who were not selected in the draft. After his college career at Eastern Illinois University, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 and took over as the starting quarterback during the 2006 season. He spent his entire professional playing career in Dallas and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times. For the Cowboys, he recorded 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdown passes, and when he departed in 2017, the club highlighted that he had finished his career holding almost all of the franchise's most important passing records. Dak Prescott later took over the record for total passing yards, while Romo's 248 touchdown passes remain an important part of the club's history.
His playing legacy is marked both by strong statistical performance and by the fact that Dallas did not reach the National Football Conference championship game or the Super Bowl during his era. Romo was known for improvisation, escaping pressure and late-game comebacks, but back and collarbone injuries gradually limited his availability. After Prescott took over the starting position in 2016, Romo retired from professional football the following spring. The Dallas Cowboys announced at the time that they were releasing him from his contract so that he could move into a television career. That transition proved almost immediate and unusually successful.
CBS immediately placed him on its lead commentary team
Romo joined CBS Sports in April 2017 as the lead analyst for NFL broadcasts, without previously spending a lengthy period working at a lower level of television coverage. On the lead commentary team, he worked alongside Jim Nantz and reporter Tracy Wolfson, and he quickly became recognizable for attempting to predict plays before they happened and explaining tactical decisions to a broad audience. In 2020, CBS gave him a long-term contract extension, confirming him as one of the most important figures in its sports production. Because of that position, the Milwaukee case is not only a private legal matter involving a famous former athlete, but also a potential reputational issue for a major national television network. CBS, however, declined to comment after the news was published.
There is currently no confirmation that the arrest will affect Romo's work schedule, his status at CBS or planned broadcasts during the NFL season. The network has not announced a suspension, an internal investigation or a change to the commentary team. Employers often make such decisions only after receiving more official information, particularly when proceedings are at an early stage and no court decision has been issued. Romo's next public appearances are therefore likely to attract additional attention, but it is currently unknown whether he will personally address the matter before the September court date. His representatives have also not issued a detailed statement about the incident.
What comes next before the September court date
The most important unresolved question is whether laboratory or other official findings will confirm the officers' initial suspicion. If a blood or urine sample was taken, processing may take longer than breath analysis, and the results may affect the type of citation and the further course of proceedings. It is also unknown whether Romo agreed to chemical testing, whether he has already been issued a notice of administrative suspension of driving privileges or whether there are additional traffic allegations. The Sheriff's Office confirmed the basic circumstances of his detention and release, but the complete documentation has not been published. Any description of possible sanctions must therefore remain conditional and separate from any assertion that responsibility has already been established.
Before the September 21 court date, the case may develop through both administrative and judicial channels. According to guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the court may dismiss the allegations or determine responsibility for OWI, a prohibited alcohol concentration or a controlled-substance-related violation, depending on what is stated in the documents and what the evidence shows. Possible consequences of a first OWI case include a financial penalty, the loss or restriction of driving privileges and a mandatory assessment and safety program, while aggravating circumstances may alter the legal classification and range of sanctions. Reports published so far contain no allegations of a traffic accident, injured persons or property damage. Romo must therefore be presumed innocent until a final decision is issued, and public assessment of the case should remain limited to confirmed facts from official and credible sources.
Sources:
- Associated Press – confirmation of the arrest, the detention process, the court date and basic biographical information (link)
- WTMJ Milwaukee – information from the record regarding the time of the stop, field sobriety tests and release from custody (link)
- FOX6 Milwaukee – information from the arrest report, the location of the stop and Romo's result at the golf championship (link)
- CBS News Texas – release time, exact court date and time, investigation status and CBS Sports' response (link)
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation – official overview of the procedure and possible consequences of a first OWI offense (link)
- Wisconsin Legislature – statutory definition of operating a vehicle under the influence under section 346.63 (link)
- Wisconsin State Golf Association – official dates and location of the 2026 Wisconsin State Amateur Championship (link)
- Dallas Cowboys – overview of Romo's playing career, statistics and transition to television commentary (link)
- CBS Sports – confirmation of Romo's status as lead NFL analyst and his long-term contract with the network (link)