Tony Romo, 46, was arrested on July 23, 2026, in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) after being stopped on Interstate 43 for unsafe passing in a gore area. Deputies noted Romo had red, glassy eyes and the odor of alcohol, and he performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He refused a breath test and had an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. Romo told deputies he was coming from a golf course and was on his way "to visit grandma and grandpa" at the time of the stop [1, 2, 3].
Romo was cited for first-offense OWI, unsafe passing, having an open intoxicant in a vehicle, and refusing an intoxication test. Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who retired in 2016 and had made four Pro Bowls, has been the lead NFL analyst for CBS Sports since 2017 [1, 2, 3].
On July 31, CBS Sports announced Romo would be placed on leave from his lead NFL analyst role until further notice. J.J. Watt will replace Romo alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on upcoming broadcasts. CBS confirmed Romo's leave but did not specify a return date, likely extending into the NFL regular season [1, 2, 3, 4].
Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million contract with CBS Sports in 2020, making a demotion before the 2028 Super Bowl unlikely without major changes. Questions about Romo's long-term future with CBS existed before the OWI arrest, citing concerns about his broadcasting performance and distance from peers. CBS is now part of Paramount Skydance under David Ellison, who has reshaped CBS News and acquired major sports rights including UFC [4].
Romo's court date for the OWI charges is scheduled for September 21, 2026. The next Super Bowl CBS will televise is in February 2028, a key date in Romo's contract and CBS's decisions about his future [1, 2, 3, 4].
Romo grew up near Milwaukee and attended high school about 35 miles away in Burlington, Wisconsin [1, 2]. The first NFL preseason game CBS will air this season, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles on August 28, is expected to be without Romo [1, 3].
