CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo announced on social media Tuesday that he has pled no contest to a civil offense for operating while intoxicated (OWI), describing the transgression as “a recent personal failure.”
Romo has been on leave from CBS Sports since last month and reportedly received three new citations following his arrest this summer. The arrest took place in late July while Romo was going southbound on I-43 near Milwaukee, and he was taken into custody and booked into the Milwaukee County Jail, later being released around 11 PM ET, per an arrest report obtained by Nick Bohr of WISN.
In a lengthy statement on Tuesday, Romo said his alcohol issues stemmed from multiple back surgeries that ended his playing career and left him with “constant, debilitating pain” and a resulting “dependence on pain medication.” It was his effort to get off of those medications that resulted in what he called “an over-reliance on alcohol.” CBS Sports did not reply to a request for comment for this story.
“None of this is an excuse,” he wrote. “These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.” Romo said he is working with doctors to address his health and “make the necessary changes. Romo: “As I turn my attention to my health, my family, and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period.” Jay Sirkin of WTMJ-TV Milwaukee reported that Romo will have his driving privileges revoked for six months and that he needs “to attend and complete an alcohol assessment program.”
It remains unknown when or if Romo will return to CBS Sports, where he is working under a contract that reportedly has four years and $72 million remaining. When addressing the situation to reporters last month, CBS Sports president David Berson said that there was “no timetable or final decision at this time” and cited considerations around “the impact on our image and on our brand” in planning for the upcoming season.
A spokesperson for Romo provided a statement to Adrienne Davis of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week explaining that Romo “accepts full responsibility for his actions and has taken proactive steps to ensure that this isolated civil matter is properly resolved.” The spokesperson added that they were “working with local authorities to bring this matter to a close,” adding that they were “communicating with CBS about next steps.”
J.J. Watt is currently serving as the analyst on the lead CBS NFL broadcasting team alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. The broadcast team will begin the season from U.S. Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers. Ross Tucker is moving into the analyst role previously occupied by Watt alongside play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle and sideline reporter Evan Washburn.
