Over the last decade, Tony Romo has quickly become one of the most recognizable voices in the NFL. After his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys, he seamlessly transitioned to the commentary booth, becoming one of the most respected analysts in the game.
Earlier this year, though, he was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a result, he is on indefinite leave from CBS Sports. In a statement, the veteran quarterback confessed to struggles with addiction. However, in a puzzling move, a former Philadelphia Eagles star chose to “pay tribute” to him with a drink.
The Perplexing Tony Romo Tribute
Romo was charged with a first-offense operating while intoxicated charge. After law enforcement officers pulled him over, they noted red, glassy eyes and the unmistakable odor of alcohol.
Initially hesitating to exit his car and perform field sobriety tests, he eventually failed them, leading to a six-month license revocation and a $784 fine. Due to the incident, CBS put him on indefinite leave.
Now, in a statement, the Cowboys icon pleaded no contest to the charges, while also admitting to his addiction to alcohol and pain medication in his battle against chronic pain from back surgeries in his past.
However, the “Speakeasy” podcast took a shocking route to address the situation. Rather than sympathizing with his cause, they poured a shot in Romo’s name, led by former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy.
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“Tony, I get it. I hear you. Hey, fellas, for Tony,” he said, before raising a glass in tribute. “He liked to drink, he don’t drink no more. Dude, you can’t drink this, put the keys down.”
McCoy went on to explain that he meant the move as a sign of respect for Romo.
“I rock with Tony Romo. He’s been one of my favorites. He’s really good on TV. He’s a really good quarterback,” McCoy added. “The thing about the NFL is that it’s a brotherhood, and you guys think I’m always sticking up for the athletes, but for real, for real, I just have a soft spot for him just because we go through a lot.”
The Speakeasy takes a shot on behalf of Tony Romo’s newfound sobriety journey
“We gon take this walk with you brotha” – @CutonDime25
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— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) September 2, 2026
Ultimately, though, the former Super Bowl champion wanted nothing but the best for the former quarterback.
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“I think I have a soft spot for ball players because at a young age, we have so much responsibility, and it never changes,” McCoy said. “So, we get a lot of great things, but also we have a lot of issues we have to deal with. So, Tony Romo, man, I hope you get the help you need.”
While his heart might have been in the right place, the vast majority of social media believed McCoy didn’t go about it the right way. As Romo tries to embrace a life of sobriety, pouring out a shot in his tribute feels like a puzzling choice.
For the time being, Romo is dealing with the consequences of the arrest. While on leave from CBS, he has expressed interest in returning to broadcasting down the line. Still under the 10-year contract worth $180 million that he signed in 2020, there is a possibility that he returns to the booth if he can put the legal troubles behind him.
