Tony Romo Now Faces Four Total Citations After New OWI Charges Filed in Wisconsin
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Tony Romo faces four citations from Wisconsin arrest including operating while intoxicated and refusing breathalyzer test after July traffic stop.
- CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave; his $180 million contract includes morals clause allowing network to void deal over conduct.
- Court appearance scheduled for September 2026 will be critical for both legal case and his broadcasting career future.
A Mounting Legal Case Against the NFL Analyst
Tony Romo has been issued three more citations following his arrest in Wisconsin last month. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was originally arrested on July 23 on a Milwaukee interstate just after 6 p.m. What began as a single traffic stop has now snowballed into a full-blown legal situation that is putting both his freedom and his broadcasting career in serious jeopardy.
Court records show the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS NFL analyst is accused of operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing on the right, and having open intoxicants in his vehicle. These follow a prior citation issued a month earlier for refusing to submit to an intoxication test. That brings the total number of citations against Romo to four.
What Happened on the Milwaukee Interstate
Bodycam footage shows Romo explaining to officers that he was just coming from the golf course on the way to see his grandparents. He told law enforcement that he had "zero" drinks when asked. The footage paints a picture of a man trying to downplay the situation in real time — one that would not hold up well under scrutiny.
He later performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody, where he refused to take the breath test. The officer described Romo as having "red glassy eyes and the odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage." An open container was allegedly found on the passenger seat. Refusing the breathalyzer may have seemed like a strategic move in the moment, but it resulted in an immediate citation of its own — and did nothing to slow down the broader investigation.
Romo's Response and His Future at CBS
Romo "accepts full responsibility for his actions and has taken proactive steps to ensure that this isolated civil matter is properly resolved," a rep told TMZ. The rep also indicated that Romo is looking to get back on the air, adding that "we are working with local authorities to bring this matter to a close and we are communicating with CBS about next steps."
CBS has placed him on leave with no return date, and J.J. Watt has moved into his broadcast slot alongside Jim Nantz. "We have to consider the impact on our image and on our brand," when deciding if and when Romo can return, CBS Sports president David Berson said. The Athletic reported that his contract includes a morals clause — language that could let the network void the deal entirely if his conduct is deemed embarrassing to the company.
What Comes Next
Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million deal with CBS back in 2020, a record-breaking contract at the time and a clear signal of how much the network valued him as a broadcaster. That investment now hangs in the balance. There is real speculation that CBS could use this as an exit ramp.
The former quarterback is expected to appear in court for his now four citations on September 21, 2026. That hearing will be a critical moment — not just legally, but professionally. How the case resolves, and how Romo conducts himself between now and then, will likely determine whether he ever returns to the broadcast booth. With the NFL season already underway and J.J. Watt settling into the top slot, CBS has little incentive to rush a decision. For Romo, the clock is ticking on far more than just a court date.