Full Breakdown
Tony Romo Accepts No-Contest Plea to OWI, Faces Stringent Sentencing Terms
9/5/2026, 7:45:32 AM
Tony Romo’s OWI Plea and Court Findings
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo entered a no-contest plea to operating while intoxicated after a traffic stop in Milwaukee on July 23. Police observed a strong odor of alcohol, recorded a blood-alcohol concentration of .15—nearly double Wisconsin’s legal limit—and noted failed field-sobriety tests. Romo was cited for OWI, possessing open intoxicants, unsafe passing on the right, and refusing an intoxication test. A Milwaukee County court found him guilty and ordered a six-month driver-license revocation, installation of an ignition-interlock device on all his vehicles, completion of an alcohol-assessment program, and payment of a $784 fine.
Legal Conditions and Mandatory Jail Provision
Court documents obtained by the California Post reveal that Romo’s plea agreement includes a “Mandatory Jail Sentence” provision: any subsequent OWI conviction within the next ten years will trigger a mandatory incarceration period, though the exact length is not specified. The agreement also requires the interlock device for any vehicle he owns, registers, or operates and maintains the six-month license suspension.
Romo’s Personal Explanation – Verbatim Quotes
- “Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain,” — Tony Romo
- “That pain led to a dependance on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.” — Tony Romo
- “My efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol,” — Tony Romo
Official Statements & Responses
The network has placed Romo on leave, and former teammate JJ Watt will serve as the lead NFL broadcast analyst in his stead.
Impact and Next Steps
The sentencing underscores the legal system’s emphasis on repeat-offender deterrence for impaired driving. Romo’s mandatory-jail clause signals that any future OWI charge could result in incarceration, a rare stipulation in first-offense plea deals. While Romo focuses on health treatment and family, the CBS network must decide his long-term role, and the public eye remains on how the mandatory provisions may influence similar cases involving high-profile individuals.
