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Tony Romo breaks silence on OWI arrest

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Sep 1, 2026 2:43 PM ET

On July 24, reports surfaced that former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS analyst Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisc., for OWI.

Romo reportedly failed to take a sobriety test at first, and when he finally did, he “performed poorly” and was arrested and booked.

On Tuesday, Romo issued a lengthy statement regarding the incident and the struggles he has been dealing with.

Here’s part of what Romo wrote in the statement:

“This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me. This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely. Multiple back surgeries ended by career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain. That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”

A statement from Tony Romo pic.twitter.com/SnvWtSM3rh
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2026

Romo also said that “none of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.”

At the end of July, CBS placed Romo on leave, and his future is up in the air as JJ Watt was named his replacement, at least for the time being.

CBS Sports president David Berson also said the network has to protect its image, raising more questions about whether or not Romo will be allowed back.

A spokesperson did say a few days prior that Romo accepted responsibility for his actions, but CBS still has a decision to make, especially since they gave the ex-QB a 10-year, $180 million contract to join the network.

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