Former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, now a top NFL broadcaster for CBS Sports, has been taken into custody on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, law enforcement officials confirmed this week.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office reported that Romo was pulled over by deputies shortly after 6 p.m. local time on Thursday in his home state of Wisconsin, where he was born and raised. After conducting standardized field sobriety tests, officers determined Romo was impaired and placed him under arrest at the scene. He was processed at a local detention facility and released on bail later the same evening, and has been scheduled to make his first court appearance on September 21 to face the charge.
Local media outlets have confirmed that this incident marks Romo’s first offense related to intoxicated driving. If convicted on the misdemeanor charge, he faces potential penalties that include a temporary suspension of his driving privileges and a monetary fine, standard for first-time offenders in Wisconsin. Since 2017, Romo has served as the lead game analyst for CBS Sports’ NFL broadcast coverage, one of the most high-profile commentary roles in American football. As of press time, CBS Sports has not issued any public statement regarding the arrest or potential impacts on Romo’s on-air role.
A standout quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 through his retirement in 2016, Romo retired holding nearly every major passing record in franchise history, including a career total of 248 touchdown passes. Off the field, he gained widespread public attention for his high-profile relationship with pop singer Jessica Simpson between 2007 and 2009. A lifelong Wisconsin native, Romo was born in Burlington, a small city located roughly 48 kilometers southwest of Milwaukee. He has been married to former model Candice Crawford since 2011, and the couple shares three children.