Newly released body camera footage shows former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in a tense exchange with police during his July 23 arrest on a Milwaukee interstate. The video, which surfaced online this week, captures Romo repeatedly refusing to exit his vehicle and insisting on calling his attorney before submitting to field sobriety tests.
Romo was pulled over just after 6 p.m. on I-94 near downtown Milwaukee. In the footage, he tells the officer he was coming straight from a golf course and heading to visit his grandparents. When asked if he had been drinking, Romo said he had “zero” drinks.
The officer, who described Romo as having “red glassy eyes and the odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage,” asked him to step out of his vehicle multiple times. Romo declined each time, citing the need to contact his lawyer first. He also began recording the encounter on his phone.
At one point Romo asked the officer, “Because I’m coming from a golf course you think I’m drunk?” The back-and-forth continued until he was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, a first offense in Wisconsin.
What the Police Report Says
According to police records, officers found unopened alcohol shooters in Romo’s bag. The former NFL star later agreed to perform field sobriety tests at the station, but not without complications. During the exercises, Romo told officers he couldn’t bend over properly because of past back surgeries from his playing days.
When asked to take a breathalyzer test, Romo flatly refused. “Oh, no,” he said. “We’re not doing that. I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that. So, we’re not going to do that.”
His performance on the sobriety tests, combined with the refusal to provide a breath sample, led to his arrest. Romo has since requested a hearing to challenge the citation.
What This Means for His Broadcasting Career
Romo retired from the NFL in 2016 after a 13-year career, all with the Cowboys. He quickly transitioned to the broadcast booth, becoming CBS Sports’ lead NFL game analyst. The Daily Mail reported that he could potentially take a “step back” from his role in the immediate aftermath of the arrest. But a source told the website that “he isn’t going anywhere long term. That wouldn’t make any sense for us at all.”
CBS has not made any official statement about Romo’s status, and no changes to his schedule have been announced. The network is currently in its preseason broadcast window, with regular season coverage set to begin in September.
Romo’s legal situation remains ongoing. If convicted, he faces fines, potential license suspension, and possible jail time, though first-time OWI offenses in Wisconsin typically result in lighter penalties. The hearing will determine whether the arrest leads to a formal charge or gets dismissed.
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