Stephen A. Smith is not writing Tony Romo off just yet.
After Romo was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the evening of July 23, 2026, on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, the CBS lead NFL analyst found himself dealing with fallout that reaches beyond the legal process. A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy pulled him over for unsafe driving, including improper lane changes, cutting across a gore area, and passing on the right/shoulder.
Still, when a caller on SiriusXM Radio asked Smith whether Romo would be back in the CBS booth this NFL season, Smith answered with caution - and a clear note of support.
“It was a mistake to put himself in that position. But it happens from time to time.
Thank God nobody was hurt or anything like that. Can’t get behind the wheel of a car inebriated in any way.
Can’t even give that impression. That’s a very, very serious transgression, and we can’t minimize that,” Smith said, per Awful Announcing.
He didn’t stop there.
“But in the same breath, he’s been a good dude, he’s always been a good dude, and nobody’s perfect. People make mistakes. And hopefully he can move on from here and live his best life and continue to do the great work he’s been doing for CBS,” he added later.
Romo’s legal situation remains unresolved, and that matters before anyone can really talk about his broadcast future. He has not been formally charged with a criminal offense.
Instead, he received traffic citations for operating while under the influence as a first offense, unsafe passing, and possession of an open container of alcohol in a moving vehicle after an open bottle was found on the passenger side of his Jeep during an inventory search. Some reports also note a citation related to refusing a chemical test for intoxication.
A court date is set for Sept. 21, though multiple reports indicate he is not required to appear in person. As of early August 2026, no criminal charges have been filed.
In Wisconsin, a first-offense OWI is generally treated as a civil violation rather than a crime. Possible penalties include fines in the range of roughly $150 to $300 for the OWI itself plus a significant surcharge, additional fines tied to the other citations, and a total bill that could land around $1,000 to $1,600. A driver’s license suspension of up to about one year is also possible.
For now, Romo remains free, the case is still pending, and the question of when - or if - he returns to the CBS booth remains tied to what happens next in court.
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Cowboys Face A Running Back Temptation They May Need To Resist
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Across the league, though, there is already a temptation for teams to look elsewhere when a name pops up on the wire, and Dallas has to be careful not to chase every opportunity. The better move may be to keep sorting through its own group and, if a change is truly needed, look toward a more proven veteran rather than disrupt a battle that is still giving the Cowboys useful information about what they have in-house. [Read more 🡒]