CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. But the real legal hammer fell this weekend when court records revealed Romo was ticketed for “Refuse to Take Test for Intoxication After Arrest” after he was pulled over in Wisconsin on July 23. Now, he’s at risk of losing his license for a year.
Here’s what went down: Romo was arrested on July 23, 2026, on suspicion of operating while intoxicated after being stopped by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office on southbound Interstate 43 around 6:18 p.m. CT. According to his arrest-detention report, Romo “performed poorly on SFSTs (standard field sobriety tests)” during the traffic stop. Cops said Romo performed poorly during field sobriety exercises and based on the new development, it seems like he was given the opportunity to take a breathalyzer or other chemical test, but declined.
What makes this move reckless? Refusing a breathalyzer in Wisconsin is worse than taking it and failing. With the new citation, Romo will now have to appear in court to fight for his driving privileges, but it won’t be easy. Romo had 10 days to request a hearing to challenge, and based on the court records, he already did. But the odds aren’t in his favor—in Wisconsin, a refusal is almost always treated more harshly than a positive test result.
The context makes this sting harder. Romo was in Wisconsin for a golf tournament—he had participated in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship in West Bend, which concluded on Thursday and finished tied in a four-way tie for 73rd. The arrest reportedly happened on I-43 in Milwaukee, some 40 miles away. So he played a golf tournament, and somewhere between leaving West Bend and driving south on I-43, things went sideways.
This is the first arrest of Tony’s life, TMZ reported. That makes the refusal even more of a head-scratcher—first-time offenders who take the test often get more lenient treatment. The refusal basically says to the court, “I’m not cooperating,” which is the opposite of the strategy most defense lawyers recommend.
The fallout is real. Romo has withdrawn from this week’s Texas State Open, which will be held at the Cascades Country Club in Tyler, starting on Tuesday, July 28. Romo has previously participated in the Texas State Open nine times. He’s also staying silent—Tony Romo has yet to say anything publicly since Thursday’s arrest in Milwaukee for suspicion of operating while intoxicated.
As for his CBS gig? CBS had no comment regarding the arrest. But Romo, 46, has been the lead game analyst for CBS’ NFL coverage since 2017 and was paired with Jim Nantz calling major games including Super Bowls. If this gets ugly in court—and a refusal charge often does—the network will have to decide whether to bench him or ride it out.
He has a court appearance set for Sept. 21. Two months to figure out his legal strategy. Two months to decide if he’s going to keep calling games on national television while fighting to keep his driver’s license.
The 16BARS take: Tony Romo didn’t fail a test—he refused one. That’s the move that separates a legal headache from a potential career crisis. Refusing a breathalyzer in 2026, when every athlete’s playbook says take the test and fight later, reads like panic. We’ll see Sept. 21 if that decision costs him his license—and maybe more.
