Video of Tony Romo’s OWI arrest shows argument with cop: ‘YOU THINK I’M DRUNK?’

Romo was asked to perform a few field sobriety exercises, including following a pen with his eyes, walking in a straight line, and standing on one leg

Published Jul 29, 2026  •  2 minute read

Tony Romo booking photo. Photo by Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

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Tony Romo told officers he was on his way to visit his grandparents when he was pulled over for suspected drunk driving.

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Body-cam footage obtained by TMZ shows the former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst appearing surprised by the traffic stop that occurred on a Milwaukee interstate just after 6 p.m. on July 23.

Romo, 46, is instructed by an officer to step out of his vehicle for field sobriety testing, which is when he declared he was going to call to his lawyer.

The cop repeated for him to get out of the car, prompting Romo to start recording the encounter on his phone while reiterating the need to call his lawyer.

Romo eventually gets out of the vehicle and asked her, “Because I’m coming from a golf course you think I’m drunk?”

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Nonetheless, the ex-Dallas Cowboy was arrested him on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, cuffed and put in the back of a cruiser, then driven to a nearby police station.

The officer suggested Romo might be impaired due to his “red glassy eyes and the odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage” coming off him.

She also noted that unopened alcohol shooters were found in his bag.

Poor performances

Romo was asked to perform a few field sobriety exercises, including following a pen with his eyes, walking in a straight line, and standing on one leg.

The former QB required instructions of what he was being asked to do.

He also had to stop and stretch multiple times, telling officers the drive over-aggravated his back following two back surgeries in 2013 during his football career.

Following his apparent poor testing, the cop asked Romo if he would submit to a breath test.

“Oh, no,” he responded. “We’re not doing that. I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that. So, we’re not going to do that.”

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Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game aagainst the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 12, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images) Photo by Steve Dykes /Getty Images

Romo was cited for refusing to take an intoxication test and booked on one count of operating while intoxicated, per TMZ.

He requested a hearing to challenge the citation but could still lose driving privileges for a year.

From the field to the camera

Romo retired from the NFL in 2017 after 14 seasons in Dallas and joined CBS Sports soon after.

Three years later, he inked a 10-year deal with the network worth a reported $180 million.

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While Romo could take a ‘step back” from some public events following the fallout from his arrest, he won’t be sacked by CBS.

“He might step back a little, short term, but he isn’t going anywhere long term,” a source told the Daily Mail. “That wouldn’t make any sense for us at all.”

Romo has not publicly addressed the incident.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 21.

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