Stephen A. Smith makes surprising case for Tony Romo's return to CBS booth image
Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo is having a tough time regarding his arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. As he also plays the role of NFL analyst on CBS, it affects him on his professional level too. But Stephen A. Smith is hopeful that he will get back soon.
Stephen A. Smith speaks of hope for Tony Romo’s return
On the evening of July 23, 2026, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and longtime CBS Sports lead NFL analyst Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. 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.
Stephen A. Smith responded to a caller on SiriusXM Radio show who asked whether Tony Romo would return to CBS broadcasts this NFL season. Smith’s answer was measured but ultimately supportive.
“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.
“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.
Tony Romo must think about his legal situation before his CBS job, as he is not fully cleared from the legal scrutiny.
Tony Romo’s legal situation
Romo 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. Potential consequences include fines in the range of roughly $150 to $300 for the OWI itself plus a significant surcharge, additional fines for the other citations, and possible total costs around $1,000 to $1,600, along with a potential driver’s license suspension of up to about one year.
Romo remains free, faces only civil traffic citations at this stage, and has a court appearance scheduled for September 21. The case is still pending.
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