J.J. Watt is staying on the main booth.
With the dismissal of former top analyst Tony Romo, CBS announced on Thursday that Watt would remain as part of the top broadcast crew alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. The broadcasting company announced that Watt had signed a new multi-year deal to take over the top spot permanently beginning this week.
“I’ve had a front-row seat to J.J.’s growth as a top-tier broadcaster, watching him tackle this role just like he did his hall-of-fame playing career,” Global sports chairman of Skydance David 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.”
JJ Watt Agrees to Multi-Year Deal to Serve as NFL ON CBS Lead Game Analyst
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) October 22, 2026
Watt will continue to call the Network’s top games alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as CBS Sports’ lead NFL announce team.https://t.co/Wgb2jew4oP pic.twitter.com/StqMDtHnyK
Watt, perhaps the greatest Houston Texans defensive player in franchise history, joined the broadcast booth last season, when he partnered up with Ian Eagle as the replacement for Charles Davis. The two drew rave reviews, which led to Watt becoming the top candidate to replace Romo while the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was placed on administrative leave following his arrest this Summer.
So far, the move has been great, with critics praising the chemistry between Nantz and Watt through their first six games. Last week, the two went viral when Nantz tried to perform the 'Peanut Punch' on a football during the game, in which the longtime broadcaster said he thought he broke his wrist.
“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 in a statement. “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!”
As a member of CBS' lead announcing team, Watt will join Nantz and Wolfson on the mic as the crew calls Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta in February 2028.
From the first meeting in Arizona with David Berson & Ross Molloy, to the brotherhood of the NFL Today desk, an unforgettable year with Ian, Evan, Ken & crew and now alongside legendary Jim Nantz, Tracy Wolfson, Rikhoff and the whole crew.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 22, 2026
What an honor & privilege.
Grateful
🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/9tNPRx94bL
Watt expressed his gratitude to CBS for naming him the new replacement at the top of the broadcast team. He now joins former players Troy Aikman (ESPN), Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Tom Brady (FOX) and Kirk Herbstreit (Amazon) as color commentators calling the national games of the week.
“It’s humbling. There’s only five seats that get to do this,” Watt said. “For me to be able to represent CBS, for David Berson and everybody involved to have the trust in me to be that person in that seat to represent this great company and of the hundreds of thousands of people that work for this company and put on such a great product every single week, it is a true honor and a privilege and I do not take that responsibility lightly at all.”
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year will officially make his debut as a permanent member of the No. 1 broadcast team when the team calls the matchup in Baltimore between the Ravens and Bengals.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Former Texans Legend J.J. Watt agrees to multi-year deal at CBS top color commentator
