‘I Own This Completely’—Tony Romo Opens Up About Alcohol Struggle and Turning God After OWI

Outspoken Christian, CBS sports analyst, and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said he is confronting his mistakes before God after pleading no contest to a OWI (operating while intoxicated) charge in Wisconsin. On July 23, Romo was arrested after authorities suspected him of driving while intoxicated. Police at the scene reported that Romo displayed “red glassy eyes” and had an “odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage.” According to reports, Romo’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.15, well above Wisconsin’s legal limit of 0.08. Tony Romo Gets Honest About His Mistakes in Released Statement On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Romo released a statement on social media admitting his failure and taking responsibility for his mistakes. RELATED: Christian Football Players in the NFL Who Love Jesus “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,” he said. “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,” he continued. “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,” he added. “I own this completely.” View this post on Instagram Romo shared how his dependence on alcohol began. “Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain,” he shared. “That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.” RELATED: ‘Come Out of Shame’—NFL Star TreVeyon Henderson Urges Followers To Turn to Christ The 46-year-old husband and father also provided a glimpse into how he has sought to teach his children about taking responsibility for mistakes. “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,” he said. “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,” Romo added. “None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.”