Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to a civil operating-while-intoxicated charge in Wisconsin, while publicly accepting responsibility and saying he is working with doctors to address his health.
Romo's plea resolves the main charge arising from his July 23 arrest after leaving a golf course. His driving privileges have been suspended for six months, and he must use an ignition-interlock device on vehicles he operates or owns. CBS has kept him on indefinite leave and has not announced when—or whether—he will return to its lead NFL broadcast team.
The story brings together three separate questions: what the plea means legally, what Romo said about alcohol and pain medication, and how CBS will handle one of sports television's best-known analysts.
What did Tony Romo plead to?
Romo entered a no-contest plea to a first-offense operating-while-intoxicated charge. In Wisconsin, a first OWI is generally handled as a civil offense rather than a criminal conviction, although it carries financial and driving penalties.
According to Reuters, Romo was assessed a $1,066 fine. His driving privileges were suspended for six months, and an ignition-interlock device must be installed in vehicles he operates or that are registered to him.
Two other citations—for unsafe passing on the right and possessing open intoxicants—were dismissed, Reuters reported, citing The Athletic.
A no-contest plea is not the same phrase as a guilty plea, but it allows the court to impose a judgment without the defendant disputing the charge. Romo said he chose the plea because he was in the wrong.
What happened during the July arrest?
Romo was stopped in Wisconsin on July 23 after leaving a golf course. Authorities arrested him on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. The legal process continued through August before the no-contest plea was announced on September 1.
Because some early reports used the language of suspicion and later reports described formal citations, readers should separate the arrest from the final disposition. The September plea and penalties are the current legal outcome.
What did Romo say about alcohol and pain medication?
In a public statement, Romo linked his problems to chronic pain that followed multiple back surgeries and other football injuries. He said the pain initially led to dependence on medication and that his attempt to move away from those medications contributed to an over-reliance on alcohol.
Romo did not present that history as an excuse. He described the incident as a personal failure, accepted responsibility and said he is working closely with medical professionals to make changes.
The former quarterback's playing career included serious back injuries and three broken collarbones. He missed 10 regular-season games in 2010 and 12 in 2015, then appeared only once during his final season.
His disclosure adds health context, but it does not change the legal responsibility he acknowledged. It is also inappropriate to speculate beyond what Romo himself has publicly stated about his treatment.
Is Tony Romo returning to CBS?
Romo said he wants to return to the broadcast booth, but CBS has not made a final commitment.
The network placed him on indefinite leave one week after the arrest. CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson later described the situation as evolving and said there was no timetable or final decision.
CBS must balance Romo's accountability and recovery with concerns about its public image, workplace expectations and the credibility of its NFL coverage. The no-contest plea gives the network more legal clarity, but it does not automatically trigger reinstatement.
Any report claiming a confirmed return date should be treated cautiously unless it comes directly from CBS Sports.
Who replaced Tony Romo at CBS?
CBS promoted former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt to join play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the network's top NFL broadcast crew while Romo is on leave.
Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and has quickly built a media profile since retiring. His promotion gives CBS an experienced football voice with major name recognition, although working as the lead game analyst is a different role from studio commentary.
The longer Watt remains in the position, the more CBS can evaluate whether the new combination works with viewers. That performance may become one factor in the network's eventual decision about Romo.
Why Tony Romo became a major broadcasting name
Romo joined CBS after retiring from the Cowboys following the 2016 season. He quickly drew praise for predicting plays before the snap and explaining quarterback decisions in accessible language.
He became the analyst on CBS's No. 1 NFL team alongside Nantz, covering major playoff games and Super Bowls. His broadcasting success helped create a market for retired star quarterbacks as high-paid television analysts.
That position also raises the stakes of the current decision. CBS is not evaluating a minor contributor; it is deciding the future of one of the faces of its most valuable sports property.
What happens next legally?
Romo must satisfy the penalties associated with the judgment, including the fine, driving suspension and ignition-interlock requirement. The dismissed citations no longer remain part of the active outcome described in current reports.
Unless another legal development occurs, attention will shift away from the court and toward his medical treatment, public conduct and employment status at CBS.
Romo has asked for privacy while focusing on his health and family. The network can take time before deciding whether he will return, because “indefinite leave” does not specify a deadline.
Could Romo return during the 2026 NFL season?
It is possible, but not confirmed. Romo's statement referred to working toward a return, while CBS has said there is no timetable.
Several factors could influence the decision:
- His compliance with the legal penalties.
- Progress in the health program he described.
- CBS's assessment of reputation and audience response.
- J.J. Watt's performance with the lead broadcast team.
- Whether Romo and the network agree on conditions for reinstatement.
Until CBS announces a decision, Watt should be considered the replacement on the top crew and Romo should be considered on leave.
Bottom line
Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to a civil OWI charge, received a fine and lost his driving privileges for six months. He has accepted responsibility and said chronic pain, pain medication and alcohol became connected problems that he is addressing with doctors.
The legal outcome is clearer; his television future is not. Romo wants to return to CBS, but the network has made no final decision and continues with J.J. Watt alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
Frequently asked questions
Was Tony Romo convicted of a criminal offense? The first-offense Wisconsin OWI was handled as a civil charge, and Romo entered a no-contest plea.
How long is Romo's driving suspension? His driving privileges were suspended for six months.
Has CBS fired Tony Romo? No firing has been announced. CBS placed him on indefinite leave and has not set a return date.
