In 2017, then-CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus took a massive gamble when he hired former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo to become the network’s lead NFL analyst. For a while, his high-stakes move paid huge dividends. But after Romo’s industry-changing 2020 contract extension, his regression in the booth, and the OWI arrest that led to his leave of absence and — eventually — the end of his tenure, it seems current chairman David Berson was unwilling to take as big a risk.
The network announced Thursday it has reached a multi-year deal with J.J. Watt to serve as its permanent lead NFL game analyst.
No one whose been following the news should be surprised. Watt has sat in the lead chair beside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz since the start of the season. While he is not as infectiously energetic in the booth as his predecessor, he is personable and prepared. Appearing on a recent edition of the “Traina Thoughts Podcast” with sports media writer Jimmy Traina, Nantz praised Watt’s work ethic.
“His preparation is so much like a guy that is preparing for an actual game to play in it,” Nantz said. “It’s astounding to see the level of detail that he gets into — and that he shares.”
Nantz stressed during the interview that any praise of Watt should not be taken as a criticism of Romo saying, “I’m not saying this is good or bad, but stylistically, I’m now back to pretty much what you would call a play-by-play role. Moreso, more traditional. I guess I don’t mean this to sound like a comparison, but Tony’s broadcasting style — I’m not saying it was wrong — it needed to be tailored toward his persona.”
His efforts to spare his former partner’s feelings are commendable, but it seems clear that having Watt in the booth gives Nantz the freedom to call games in a way that suits his style. While outside observers can’t be totally sure, Nantz’s comments to Traina suggest that Watt received a ringing endorsement from his now full-time NFL boothmate.
Watt is a future Hall-of-Famer and a likable broadcaster who has displayed a passion for the business, but his appeal to CBS begins with an even simpler reality: He is already there. With Fox’s Greg Olsen and ESPN’s Troy Aikman nearing the end of their contracts — and millions reportedly owed to Romo after his departure — CBS took the safe (and likely less expensive) route. By announcing Watt’s hire early, the network locks in stability ahead of what could be a turbulent offseason in NFL broadcasting.
Nantz and Watt have a lot of work to do before CBS’ Super Bowl in February 2028. Their viral “Peanut Punch” segment from last week’s Bills-Raiders broadcast felt a bit forced, as if the two were trying too hard to manufacture chemistry. Chemistry takes time, but it also takes great effort. In what areas is Nantz willing to bend for the good of the broadcast? Is Nantz capable of tweaking his storytelling-based play-by-play to draw more charisma out of Watt? At their best, Nantz played the straight man to Romo’s entertaining unpredictability. Watt brings energy, but his more restrained style can leave the booth sounding a bit sterile.
CBS has found its man, and it didn’t have to look far. Now the hard work begins in earnest — getting its lead play-by-play announcer and new lead analyst to sound like a natural pairing.
Plus: Dodger-less World Series a reprieve for Joe Davis
Friday marks Joe Davis’ fifth World Series as lead voice of the MLB on Fox. For the first time in three years, he will call a Fall Classic without the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team for which he also serves as lead announcer.
Every championship event carries a certain amount of pressure for a national broadcaster, but the scrutiny Davis has faced during the Dodgers’ dominant run has been intense.
His dual roles and LA’s constant winning have made Davis an easy target for viewers who hear (or believe they hear) a Dodgers partisan in the national booth. With Los Angeles out of the picture, Davis can spend this World Series telling the stories in front of him without every inflection becoming a referendum on his loyalties.
In many ways, the Brewers-Rays World Series is a play-by-play announcer’s dream: two exceptional teams, one guaranteed first-time champion. Davis might prefer to have the Dodgers in the mix, but a break from questions about his ties to LA could make the 2026 Fall Classic a gift for Fox’s lead MLB voice.
