Tony Romo Arrested in Milwaukee on Suspicion of OWI

Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who has spent the past nine years as CBS Sports' lead NFL analyst, was arrested in Milwaukee on the evening of July 23, 2026, on suspicion of a first-offense OWI after the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office stopped him on southbound Interstate 43.

What the Arrest Report Says

Deputies pulled Romo over on the high-rise bridge on southbound I-43 at approximately 6:18 p.m., according to an arrest-detention report. The report states that Romo performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests and was subsequently taken into custody. Formal charges had not been filed as of Friday, July 24, 2026.

Romo was booked and released. His scheduled court date is September 21, 2026. The exact court appearance time has not been independently confirmed through the Wisconsin Court System's case portal.

No chemical or breath test result has been made public, and it is not confirmed whether Romo submitted to a breath test or declined.

OWI in Wisconsin: What It Means

Wisconsin uses the term Operating While Intoxicated OWI as its statutory designation for impaired driving. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation confirms that similar conduct is called DUI or DWI in other states, but OWI is the correct term under Wisconsin law.

For a first offense with a prohibited alcohol concentration at or above 0.08, Wisconsin treats OWI as a civil infraction rather than a criminal charge. The fine typically ranges from $150 to $300, accompanied by potential license revocation. No conviction or plea has been recorded in Romo's case the legal process is at its earliest stage.

Why Romo Was in Wisconsin

Romo grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin, and returned to his home state earlier this week to play in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship golf tournament in West Bend. The four-day event ran Monday through Thursday. Romo tied for 73rd in the field, per local reports, before the stop on I-43 later that evening.

His connection to Wisconsin runs deeper than the tournament. Burlington's high school football field was named in his honor in 2020, and he attended the dedication in 2022.

No Comment from CBS, No Firing Confirmed

According to the Associated Press, CBS Sports did not comment on the arrest. No verified report from any primary news source confirms that Romo was fired, suspended, or disciplined by CBS following his arrest.

Romo's broadcast role remains formally unchanged. Any update would need to come directly from CBS or Romo's representatives as of this report, neither has issued a public statement.

It is not the first time an NFL figure's off-field arrest has raised questions about broadcast futures. Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was arrested on eight felony counts in June 2026 on charges far more serious in nature, a case that showed how differently the league and its broadcasters handle allegations depending on severity and circumstance.

Romo's Career at a Glance

Romo played 156 games for Dallas between 2003 and 2016, starting 127 of them. His official NFL career statistics show 34,183 passing yards, 248 touchdown passes, 117 interceptions, and a 97.1 passer rating across his time as the Cowboys' starter. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he retired after the 2016 season and moved directly into the broadcast booth at CBS, where he became the network's No. 1 color analyst.

No prior arrests for Romo appear in publicly available records.

What Comes Next

Romo's September 21 court date is the next confirmed step in the legal process. Until formal charges are filed by prosecutors and a case is entered in the Wisconsin court system, the matter remains at the arrest stage he has not been convicted of anything, and the case has not yet been adjudicated.

The case can be tracked directly through Wisconsin's official court records portal once a case number is assigned and made publicly available.