CBS Sports broadcaster JJ Watt arrives at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) Chuck Schilken Thu, October 22, 2026 at 5:20 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JJ Watt got the job.
After six weeks of filling in as lead NFL game analyst for CBS Sports, Watt has reached a multi-year agreement to continue alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz in the network's top broadcast booth. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The move assures that Watt will call his first Super Bowl on Feb. 13, 2028, in Atlanta. In a video posted Wednesday on his X account, Watt said it is "humbling" to be in such a position.
"It is a true honor and a privilege, and I do not take that responsibility lightly at all," Watt said. "I appreciate their trust in me, and I have an absolute blast doing it every single week. And I cannot wait to continue to do it."
The former three-time defensive player of the year wasn't so sure the news would be that good Monday morning when he saw he had missed a call from parent company Skydance global sports group chairman David Berson.
Read more: Jim Nantz says he 'learned a lesson' trying to 'Peanut' punch ball from J.J. Watt: Don't do it
"I'm thinking to myself, 'Oh man, missed call from the boss. Am I in trouble for potentially breaking Jim Nance's hand on the broadcast on Sunday with our with our ball drill?'" Watt joked. "It turns out that it was significantly better news than being called into the principal's office."
After a 12-season NFL career (10 with the Houston Texans, two with the Arizona Cardinals) that included five Pro Bowl selections, Watt joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst in 2023, then moved to the broadcast booth to call games with play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle last season.
Watt got bumped up to the top booth this season after Tony Romo, who had been the network's lead game analyst since 2017, was placed on indefinite leave following his July arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated . Earlier this month, CBS announced it had "mutually agreed to part ways" with Romo.
Read more: ESPN's Troy Aikman says he'll be 'free agent' after season, laughs at reported tension with Joe Buck
"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 in a statement. "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."
Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .
Source: Sports
Post a Comment