Jerry Jones confident Tony Romo will bounce back after OWI arrest

Jerry Jones is confident that Tony Romo won’t be defined by his recent arrest.

The longtime Dallas Cowboys quarterback was arrested in Wisconsin on July 23 on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence (OWI), according to police records obtained by USA TODAY Sports. He “performed poorly on SFSTs (standard field sobriety tests),” resulting in him being taken into custody.

Jones was asked about Romo during a recent interview with KDFW Fox 4, when the Cowboys’ owner said he has “been talking to” Romo in the aftermath of his arrest, and spoke glowingly about his former quarterback’s character and talent.

“I love him,” Jones said of Romo. “I love what he’s about. I love his character. I love his love of sport. And he’s a very, very unique talent. And the real question is – and I don’t even have to ask what the answer is: Do you think Tony Romo knows how to get up when he gets knocked down? He had a life of that. And absolutely, that’s one of his greatest attributes, is that he can handle adversity.

“And so this is something that he will work through. He is a unique talent. … So, obviously, I’m a big fan of his, big fan of his family, and let me tell you right now, he’s as real as he sounds. He feels every down time, he feels every up time.”

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Running back Jeremiyah Love – the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft – carries the ball during Arizona Cardinals training camp on July 26.

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Jones would add that his ability to see games differently on the field during his playing days translated to his abilities as a broadcaster.

Romo’s case continued to be a major story after bodycam footage surfaced. Romo explained he was heading to his grandparents’ home at the time of the stop, which occurred after the quarterback left a golf tournament nearby.

Police informed him that the stop was for “unsafe passing on the right,” and “cutting across the gore.”

Romo was officially placed on leave by CBS Sports on July 31, putting his status as the network’s top NFL analyst in question.

He is due in court on Sept. 21 at 8:30 a.m. CT, according to his arrest report.

J.J. Watt is slated to fill that void alongside play-by-play voice Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson until further notice.

It’s unclear who will take over for Watt in the CBS booth with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn, with CBS saying that information will be revealed at a later date.