Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo told a Milwaukee deputy he had consumed “zero” drinks before a traffic stop that ended with the CBS NFL analyst in handcuffs, newly released police bodycam video shows.
Romo, 46, was arrested July 23 on suspicion of first-offense operating while intoxicated after he was pulled over on an elevated highway in Milwaukee.
The bodycam footage, obtained by NBC 5, shows a deputy identified as R. Kaur walking up to Romo’s SUV after stopping him for “unsafe passing on the right” and cutting across a marked area.
Romo appeared surprised by the stop and at times seemed to have trouble hearing the deputy’s questions and instructions.
He told the deputy he was coming from a golf course and was on his way to “meet grandma and grandpa.”
Asked how many drinks he had consumed, Romo said he had consumed “zero.”
When Kaur asked if he was willing to perform field sobriety tests, Romo indicated he wanted to call his lawyer.
The deputy repeatedly ordered Romo to get out of the vehicle, but he continued saying he wanted to call his attorney.
After Kaur told him he could not do that because it was an OWI investigation, Romo began recording the encounter on his cellphone.
“Because I’m coming from a golf course you think I’m drunk?” Romo asked before exiting his car.
The deputy then handcuffed Romo and explained she was detaining him for possible OWI while moving him off the bridge to a level surface for field sobriety tests.
The traffic stop video ended after Romo got into the deputy’s vehicle and was driven to a nearby police station.
Body cam footage of Tony Romo getting arrested for a DUI: pic.twitter.com/GesOaI7agh
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 29, 2026
In another video, Romo is seen getting out of the squad car as Kaur explains why she suspected impairment.
The deputy pointed to his “red, glassy eyes” and “the odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage from your breath.”
She also said deputies found “a few shooters,” slang for small containers of alcohol, in his bag.
“Any of them drank?” Romo asked.
The deputy did not respond and directed him to begin the field sobriety tests.
Before the tests began, Romo asked if he could “do exercises” first, saying the ride aggravated old back injuries.
He stretched for about 20 seconds before proceeding.
Kaur asked Romo whether he had any recent head injuries or concussions.
Romo smiled and briefly laughed.
“Over the years, yes, but not recently.”
For more than 12 minutes, Kaur led Romo through field sobriety tests, including following a pen with his eyes, standing on one leg and walking in a straight line while counting his steps.
Romo interrupted at times as the deputy repeated instructions.
During the tests, he removed his sandals, placed his hands on his lower back and bent over in what appeared to be another stretch while mentioning his prior back surgeries.
The deputy eventually stopped the tests and asked whether Romo would submit to a breath test.
NEW: Bodycam footage of Tony Romo’s arrest released, tells police officer that he was on his way to see Grandma and Grandpa.
“Because I’m coming from a golf course, you think I’m drunk?” he asked the female police officer.
Romo was also heard telling officers that he was having… pic.twitter.com/Por3T2kahA
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 29, 2026
“Oh no. We’re not doing that,” Romo responded. “I’ve heard from multiple lawyers, ‘Don’t ever do that.’ So, we’re not going to do that.”
Romo then asked, “Did I pass this test?”
The deputy told him he was under arrest, and Romo was placed back in handcuffs.
A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office report said Romo “performed poorly” on standardized field sobriety tests but did not provide additional detail.
According to court records obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Romo received a citation Monday for refusal to take a test for intoxication.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office told the paper the case is considered a traffic violation and not a criminal charge.
Under Wisconsin law, a first-offense OWI is generally treated as a civil infraction.
NBC 5 said it emailed a talent agency associated with Romo on Friday after news of the arrest broke and again Tuesday after obtaining the video, but did not receive a response.
Romo is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 21.
The former Cowboys star played in Dallas from 2004 to 2016 before moving into broadcasting with CBS Sports, where he became one of the network’s top NFL analysts.
The bodycam footage now puts a very public face on what might otherwise have been written off as another celebrity traffic stop.
Romo denied drinking, questioned why the stop turned into an OWI investigation and refused the breath test.
But police say the former quarterback performed poorly on the field tests.
Now the case heads to court, where Romo will have to answer for the kind of off-field mistake that no replay booth can erase.
