Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office stopped Romo while he was traveling south on Interstate 43 on July 23.
An arrest-detention report said he “performed poorly” on standardized field sobriety tests before deputies took him into custody.
Romo, 46, was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail and released later that night. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 21.
Romo Was Stopped on Milwaukee’s High-Rise Bridge
Romo was stopped at approximately 6:18 p.m. while driving southbound on I-43 near Milwaukee’s high-rise bridge, according to the sheriff’s report cited by Reuters. FOX6 Milwaukee reported that deputies arrested him after the field sobriety tests. He was booked at approximately 9:45 p.m. and released around 11 p.m.
Authorities also had not publicly disclosed whether he provided a blood, breath or urine sample for chemical testing. Romo had not been accused of causing a collision or injuring another person in the information released with the arrest report.
A First Wisconsin OWI Is Generally a Civil Violation
A first offense is generally a civil matter carrying a forfeiture rather than a criminal conviction. Reuters reported that the standard fine typically ranges from $150 to $300, although court costs, license penalties, assessments and other requirements can increase the consequences.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says a person cited for a first OWI may be required to appear in court, where the violation can be dismissed or result in a conviction. A conviction can lead to license revocation and a mandatory alcohol or drug assessment and driver-safety plan. The Associated Press reported that CBS declined to comment following Romo’s arrest.
The Arrest Came After a Wisconsin Golf Tournament
Romo was in his home state for the Wisconsin Amateur Championship, which was held in West Bend from July 20 through July 23. He tied for 73rd place in the tournament, according to FOX6. The Burlington, Wisconsin, native has remained active in competitive golf since retiring from the NFL. He was an all-state athlete in football, basketball and golf at Burlington High School, where the football field was renamed Tony Romo Field in 2020.
Romo joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois in 2003 and became the team’s starting quarterback in 2006. He spent his entire 14-season NFL career with Dallas, earning four Pro Bowl selections and finishing with 34,183 passing yards, 248 touchdown passes and a 78-49 record as a starter. After retiring, Romo joined CBS in 2017 and became the network’s lead NFL game analyst alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.