CBS Sports announced Thursday that J.J. Watt is its new lead NFL game analyst, taking over the role formerly held by Tony Romo. The network confirmed Watt signed a new multi-year deal to call games alongside play-by-play voice Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, a trio that will also handle next season’s Super Bowl broadcast.
CBS did not disclose financial terms of Watt’s contract. The move caps a rapid rise for the former defensive end, who retired after the 2022 season and has spent less than four years building a broadcasting career.
The Main Development
Watt’s promotion fills the vacancy created when CBS parted ways with Romo following his July arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a development Total Apex Sports covered at the time. Watt had already been working alongside Nantz and Wolfson for six weeks with the network’s No. 1 broadcast team before officially receiving the lead analyst title.
In a statement released by CBS, Watt thanked the network and his broadcast partners. “I am incredibly honored and grateful to have the opportunity to represent CBS Sports and all of the fantastic people who make this place so special,” Watt said. “From the brotherhood of THE NFL TODAY to my crews calling games, I couldn’t ask for better teammates alongside me on this television journey.
I am thankful to David Berson for his leadership, vision and trust. I love this job and can’t wait to see ya Sunday with Jim and Tracy and many more Sundays to come!”
What It Means For CBS’s NFL Coverage
Watt now sits atop CBS’s NFL broadcast hierarchy, a spot that comes with the network’s top assignments each week and the Super Bowl call next season. His elevation also signals that CBS valued the chemistry he built quickly with Nantz and Wolfson over the trial period before making the arrangement permanent.
CBS executive David Berson praised Watt’s development in a statement. “I’ve had a front-row seat to JJ’s growth as a top-tier broadcaster, watching him tackle this role just like he did his hall-of-fame playing career,” Berson said. “He’s insightful, entertaining, passionate, meticulous in his preparation, and the ultimate teammate.
He has a unique ability to see things and communicate to fans of all levels. We are thrilled to have him leading our NFL coverage.”
Watt’s Broadcasting Background
Watt joined CBS in 2023 as a studio analyst before moving to the broadcast booth last season as part of the network’s No. 2 crew alongside Ian Eagle, a stint that drew positive reviews, according to the Houston Chronicle. He stepped into the lead role once Romo was placed on leave and later dismissed following the DUI arrest.
Watt’s reputation for intense preparation, a trait carried over from his playing days as a pass rusher, has been cited as a hallmark of his broadcasting approach, according to Yahoo Sports. That intensity defined his 12-year NFL career, split between 10 seasons with the Houston Texans and two with the Arizona Cardinals. Watt earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and finished with 114.5 career sacks.
What’s Next
Watt is set to continue calling games with Nantz and Wolfson through the remainder of the season, with the assignment culminating in next season’s Super Bowl broadcast. CBS has not announced a separate starting date for the lead role beyond Watt’s existing work with the top crew this fall.
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