Tony Romo Apologizes and Pleads No Contest Following DUI Arrest

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — Tony Romo, the ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS NFL analyst, has publicly apologized after admitting no contest to a charge of driving under the influence.

Romo was detained on July 23 after being pulled over while driving southbound on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. CBS Sports has temporarily relieved him of his duties as the network’s lead game analyst.

According to Milwaukee County court documents, Romo’s driving privileges have been revoked for six months. He has been mandated to participate in an alcohol assessment program, pay a fine of $834, and install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle in his name for at least one year after his license is reinstated.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Romo acknowledged the past month as challenging yet significant. He admitted to confronting and accepting responsibility for his errors to his faith, himself, his family, and the public.

Romo attributed his struggles to the constant, debilitating pain resulting from multiple back surgeries, which led to a reliance on pain medication and subsequently an over-reliance on alcohol. He emphasized that these explanations do not excuse his actions and that he is committed to making necessary changes with the help of medical professionals.

He expressed gratitude towards his family, friends, and the NFL community for their support and requested privacy as he focuses on his health and eventual return to CBS.

CBS Sports president David Berson has not provided a timeline for a decision regarding Romo’s future with the network. Romo, 46, has been CBS’s primary NFL game analyst since 2017, following a playing career with Dallas from 2004 to 2016.

During Romo’s leave, analyst JJ Watt will join play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS’s main team. Their first game together will be on September 13, featuring the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Green Bay Packers.

Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office citations revealed that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests. An open bottle of alcohol was discovered in the passenger seat of his black Jeep during a vehicle inventory before towing.

Body camera footage captured Romo informing deputies that he was traveling from a golf course to visit his grandparents when he was stopped. A deputy noted Romo’s suspected impairment due to his red, glassy eyes and the odor of alcohol.

Romo attended high school in Burlington, Wisconsin, approximately 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee. He remains the Cowboys’ franchise leader in career touchdown passes with 248. Romo held the team record for career passing yards with 34,183 until Dak Prescott surpassed him last season.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)