Former
As part of the court's ruling, Romo will have his driving privileges suspended for a period of six months. Additionally, the court has mandated the installation of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he owns or operates. Beyond these restrictions, the 46-year-old is required to complete an alcohol assessment program and pay a fine of $784.
Legal proceedings and personal statement
The arrest occurred after police pulled Romo over in Milwaukee. According to court records, an officer at the scene reported a strong odor of alcohol on the former signal-caller's breath. Following a poor performance on field sobriety tests, Romo was taken into custody. While he was initially cited for refusing a breathalyzer test, he was later issued additional citations for unsafe passing, first-offense OWI, and possessing open intoxicants.
In a public statement released via social media, Romo addressed the circumstances surrounding the incident. He attributed his struggles to a reliance on medication and alcohol, which he described as a response to the chronic, debilitating pain resulting from multiple back surgeries during his professional football career. Romo emphasized that he is not offering excuses for his actions, stating that he takes full responsibility for his failures. He confirmed that he is currently working with a team of medical professionals to address his health and implement necessary lifestyle changes.
Career context and network status
Romo, who spent his entire NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2004 to 2016 and earned four Pro Bowl selections, transitioned to broadcasting after his retirement. He has served as the lead NFL game analyst for CBS Sports since 2017. Following the incident, the network placed him on leave.
In August, CBS Sports president David Berson described Romo's standing with the network as an evolving situation that remains under assessment. In the interim, former NFL defensive end JJ Watt has been tapped to fill the vacancy on the network's lead broadcast team.
