Tony Romo pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle while intoxicated. This charge stemmed from his July arrest in Milwaukee. He later acknowledged an over-reliance on alcohol to manage his chronic back pain.

Legal Consequences

According to court records, Romo’s license will be revoked for six months. He must pay a fine of $784. Additionally, Romo is required to complete an Alcohol Assessment Program and install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he owns.

Romo was arrested on Thursday night in Milwaukee for operating while impaired. During the traffic stop, police reported a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Romo, and an open alcoholic beverage bottle was discovered on the passenger side of his vehicle. Romo was cited for refusing an intoxication test and first-offense OWI.

Romo’s Personal Struggles

In the wake of his arrest, CBS Sports placed NFL analyst Tony Romo on leave. He addressed the incident to his Instagram followers, acknowledging his responsibility.

“This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense of OWI in Wisconsin,” Romo stated. “I own this completely.”

Romo elaborated on his struggles, detailing his reliance on pain medications following multiple back surgeries. He then turned to alcohol to ease his transition off painkillers.

“The pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol,” Romo explained.

Emphasizing the lessons he communicates to his children, he spoke of the importance of taking full responsibility and making necessary life changes.

“These are my failures, and I take full responsibility for them,” Romo said. “The past month has required me to confront and own my mistakes fully, to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public.”

Romo conveyed gratitude for the support received from his family, friends, and the NFL community. He emphasized his commitment to working with a team of doctors to improve his health.

His statement garnered notable attention, including nearly 17,000 likes on social media. Fox Sports lead analyst Tom Brady was among those who liked Romo’s post.