Tony Romo treats field sobriety test like NFL combine

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee after a July 23 traffic stop for suspected impaired driving, and newly released bodycam video shows him stretching before a field sobriety test like an NFL combine warmup—an effort that still ended in handcuffs and a citation.

Key Takeaways

• Romo was stopped July 23 on I-43 in Milwaukee for unsafe passing and later cited for a first-offense OWI.
• Bodycam video shows the CBS analyst stretching and citing back surgeries before a field sobriety test.
• A deputy said Romo had red, glassy eyes, alcohol on his breath, and “a few shooters” in his bag.
• He refused a preliminary breath test; the case is set for Sept. 21 and is generally a civil offense in Wisconsin.

Newly released Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office bodycam footage has turned a traffic stop into viral bizarre news, with fans stunned as Romo limbered up before police testing as if he were prepping for the combine.

According to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, deputy R. Kaur stopped Romo’s SUV for “unsafe passing on the right” and cutting across a marked area. Romo, 46, said he was coming from a golf course to “meet grandma and grandpa” and had consumed “zero” drinks.

What did the bodycam show during the stop?

Romo asked to call his lawyer and questioned why leaving a golf course meant he was drunk. Kaur handcuffed him and moved the stop off an elevated highway to a level surface for field sobriety tests, citing red, glassy eyes and the odor of alcohol on his breath.

Deputies also reported finding “a few shooters”—small alcohol containers—in his bag. “Any of them drank?” Romo asked. OutKick/Fox News reported he later said he did not think any had been consumed.

Why did Romo stretch before the sobriety test?

At the station area, Romo asked to “do exercises” first, saying the handcuffed ride aggravated prior back injuries. He stretched for about 20 seconds, telling officers he needed to stand because of two back surgeries—footage that left online viewers comparing the warmup to NFL combine drills.

For more than 12 minutes, Kaur ran Romo through standard tests: following a pen with his eyes, standing on one leg, and walking a straight line while counting steps. He removed his sandals, stretched again, and repeatedly mentioned his back. A sheriff’s report said he “performed poorly,” without further detail.

What charges does Tony Romo face after the arrest?

When asked to take a preliminary breath test, Romo declined, saying lawyers had told him never to do that. “Did I pass this test?” he asked before being told he was under arrest. He was cited for first-offense operating while intoxicated and refusing a chemical/sobriety test, then released.

WISN reported the stop around 5:30 p.m. southbound on Interstate 43 near the Marquette Interchange, and that Romo was cooperative. In Wisconsin, a first OWI is generally a civil traffic matter, not a criminal charge. A court date is set for Sept. 21; appearance is not mandatory.

Romo, a four-time Pro Bowler and Burlington, Wisconsin native, played for the Cowboys from 2004 to 2016 and remains part of CBS’s lead NFL broadcast team. His representatives had not commented publicly in response to media requests.