Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports NFL analyst Tony Romo was arrested Thursday on suspicion of operating while intoxicated after competing in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship, authorities said.
Romo, 46, a Wisconsin native, was stopped around 5:30-6:18 p.m. while driving southbound on Interstate 43 just south of the Marquette Interchange on a high-rise bridge in Milwaukee, according to an arrest-detention report obtained by WISN 12 and details from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said he performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. The report listed his demeanor as cooperative. He was booked on a first-offense OWI and released.
No blood-alcohol content or breathalyzer results were included in the report. In Wisconsin, a first-offense OWI is typically handled as a civil matter rather than a criminal charge, carrying a fine of $150 to $300 and potential license consequences. Romo’s court date is set for Sept. 21; his appearance is not mandatory. Formal charges have not yet been filed.
The arrest came shortly after Romo wrapped up the final round of the 125th Wisconsin Amateur Championship at West Bend Country Club. The former NFL star, who played high school golf in his hometown of Burlington, finished tied for 73rd at 35-over par. He shot 12-over in the final round. Earlier in the event, he had taken time to show a young fan football drills after walking off the course.
Romo played for the Cowboys from 2003 to 2016, throwing for 34,183 yards and 248 touchdowns. He has worked as a lead NFL analyst for CBS since retiring. This is his first arrest.
A mugshot released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office shows Romo with a slight smile. No public statement from Romo or CBS Sports was immediately available.
