Romo Pleads No Contest to Wisconsin OWI, Faces License Revocation and Interlock Device

Key points

• Romo pleaded no contest to a civil OWI offense in Milwaukee County court on September 1, 2026.
• His blood-alcohol content was 0.15, nearly double the legal limit of 0.08.
• The court ordered a six-month driving privilege revocation and an $834 fine due by November 2.
• Romo must complete an alcohol assessment program and install an ignition interlock device for at least one year after license reinstatement.
• Three other traffic citations from the July 23 arrest were dismissed.
• CBS Sports has placed Romo on leave, with J.J. Watt replacing him as lead analyst.

Background

Romo was arrested on July 23, 2026, following a traffic stop on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. He had been the lead NFL analyst for CBS since 2017 after a 14-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. This plea follows his initial arrest and booking, where he failed field sobriety tests.

How outlets are covering it

TMJ4 and NFL.com report the core legal outcomes and Romo’s public statement citing pain medication dependence. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a reader letter criticizing Wisconsin’s classification of first-offense OWIs as civil rather than criminal matters, contrasting it with other states. While TMJ4 and NFL.com focus on the resolution and broadcast implications, the Journal Sentinel highlights the legal distinction in Wisconsin law.

Why it matters

The case highlights the legal consequences for high-profile figures in Wisconsin’s civil OWI system and impacts CBS’s broadcast lineup. It also sparks debate on whether first-time drunk driving offenses should be treated as criminal charges in the state.

What to watch

Romo must pay the $834 fine by November 2 to avoid a one-year license suspension. CBS president David Berson has not set a timeline for Romo’s return, though the network has scheduled J.J. Watt to fill the analyst role starting September 13.