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By Gabe Whisnant
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CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was arrested Thursday on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence (OWI), according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.
An arrest report states that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests after being stopped while driving south on Interstate 43. Authorities said he was taken into custody, booked and later released. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 21.
Romo was in Wisconsin this week competing in the 125th Wisconsin Amateur Championship at West Bend Country Club, a tournament that concluded Thursday. The former Cowboys quarterback, an avid golfer and Wisconsin native, finished tied for 73rd place before his arrest later that day.
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On Friday, July 31, CBS Sports said that Romo is on leave from his role until further notice. The first Sunday of the NFL season is Sept. 13.
Newsweek reached out to CBS Sports and representatives for Romo via email for comment.
What Is an OWI?
OWI stands for "Operating While Intoxicated," the term Wisconsin uses for impaired-driving offenses that are commonly referred to as DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) in other states. Under Wisconsin law, a person can be cited for OWI if authorities determine they were operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or certain other substances, or if they exceeded the legal blood alcohol concentration limit.
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The potential consequences in Romo's case may differ from what drivers face elsewhere. In many states, a first drunk driving offense is a criminal misdemeanor. Wisconsin, however, generally treats a first OWI as a civil forfeiture unless aggravating factors are present.
"If it's a first offense drunk driving where there is something like property damage or a child in the car, that's a criminal offense with the risk of jail. If it's aggravated, it goes criminal," Lanny Glinberg, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Newsweek.
That means a first-time offender typically faces a forfeiture of $150 to $300 before surcharges and court costs, along with possible license revocation and other administrative penalties. The state's approach has long distinguished Wisconsin from much of the country, where even a first DUI or DWI conviction often carries a criminal record.
The policy has survived repeated legislative debates over whether first-time offenders should face criminal penalties, reflecting a longstanding state approach that emphasizes escalating punishments for repeat offenders rather than criminalizing most first offenses.
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Tony Romo's Career: What to Know
Romo, 46, attended high school in Burlington, Wisconsin, about 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee.
Since retiring from the NFL, Romo has served as CBS Sports' lead NFL game analyst, a role he has held since 2017.
During a 13-year career with the Dallas Cowboys, he earned four Pro Bowl selections and set franchise records for career touchdown passes (248) and passing yards (34,183), though Dak Prescott surpassed his yardage mark last season.
Romo has also pursued competitive golf after retiring from the NFL. The former Cowboys quarterback has played in numerous high-level amateur events, received sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour tournaments and repeatedly attempted to advance through PGA Tour qualifying. While he has fallen short of earning professional status, Romo has remained one of the most accomplished celebrity golfers in the country and is a regular participant in Wisconsin amateur events.
Who Is Tony Romo's Wife, Candice Crawford Romo?
Candice Crawford Romo is a former television reporter and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Missouri USA crown in 2008. She married Tony Romo in 2011, and the couple has three sons.
Crawford previously worked in sports media and is also known as the sister of actor Chace Crawford, who starred in the television series Gossip Girl and The Boys. In recent years, she and Romo have largely kept their family life out of the public spotlight.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Sam Wilson.
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