Tony Romo broke his silence Tuesday, addressing the OWI arrest that has kept him away from CBS and opening up about the health issues he says helped lead him there.
In a statement, the former Cowboys quarterback said he pleaded no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin, where he was arrested after being pulled over in July. Police body cam footage later surfaced showing Romo taking a field sobriety test that authorities said he performed poorly on, and he was ultimately cited multiple times.
“This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin,” Romo stated. “I own this completely.”
Romo said the roots of the problem go back to the back injuries that ended his playing career sooner than he expected.
“Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain,” he added. “That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”
He made clear he was not trying to excuse what happened.
Romo said he takes “full responsibility” for the mistake and is seeking help for his substance abuse issues. He also said the last month has forced him to confront what he called his mistakes “fully - to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public.”
“The past month has been difficult, but it has also been personally significant. It has required me to confront, own my mistakes fully - to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public,” Romo added.
“I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes.”
Romo also used the statement to signal that he expects to return to CBS, where he works on the network’s top NFL broadcast team with Jim Nance. CBS had placed him on leave after the arrest.
“As I return my attention to my health, my family, and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period,” he concluded.
Romo spent all 13 seasons of his NFL career with Dallas. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2014, his third-to-last season. Forced to retire after the 2016 campaign because of his back problems, he finished second in franchise history in passing yards and first in touchdowns.
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