MILWAUKEE — Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo pleaded no contest to an OWI-first citation following his arrest in July in downtown Milwaukee, court records show.
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The court Tuesday ordered that Romo's driving privileges be revoked for 6 months and ordered him to attend and complete an alcohol assessment program, court records show.
Romo, a Burlington native, was facing four traffic citations following his arrest. Court records show his three other citations were dismissed. He will have to pay $834 in fines by Nov. 2, or risk his driver's license being suspended for up to a year.
He was also ordered that an ignition interlock device be installed on any vehicle Romo owns, operates, or is registered in his name for a minimum of one year after the Wisconsin Department of Transportation issues him a license.
TMJ4 reached out to Romo's attorney for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Romo released a statement on his personal Instagram account:
"Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life. I played for more than 20 years, including 14 in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close to the game through broadcasting. Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better. This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me. This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely. Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain. That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol. As I have taught my three young sons: when you fall short, you stand up and take full responsibility. That is an important first step. The harder and more important step is examining the path that brought you here and making the changes necessary to move forward. That path requires honesty. None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them. The past month has been difficult, but it has also been personally significant. It has required me to confront and own my mistakes fully—to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public. I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes. I am deeply grateful for the support of my family, my friends, and the NFL community including players, coaches, and owners. Your encouragement has meant more to me than you know. As I turn my attention to my health, my family, and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period. God bless."
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