CBS Locks In J.J. Watt as Its No. 1 NFL Analyst Beyond 2026

The network shuffle at the top of NFL broadcasting has come to an end. CBS announced Thursday morning that J.J. Watt will serve as its No. 1 NFL game analyst under a new multi-year agreement that runs at least through next year's Super Bowl in Atlanta. Watt had been the network's second analyst before CBS placed Tony Romo on leave in August. When the two sides confirmed a permanent split on October 2, Watt moved into the top chair alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson, and the Thursday announcement makes the promotion official for the long term. "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," said David Berson, chairman of Skydance Global Sports Group. "He's insightful, entertaining, passionate, meticulous in his preparation, and the ultimate teammate." Watt joined CBS Sports in 2023 as a studio analyst on The NFL Today. He stepped into the booth last season to call games with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn, and earlier this year he began working with the lead team of Nantz and Wolfson, a pairing that will now continue indefinitely. The decision removes CBS from the crowded market for top analysts. It also closes a potential landing spot for names like Troy Aikman and Greg Olsen as the broadcaster musical chairs continue elsewhere.