Watt officially promoted and locked into multi-year contract
J.J. Watt has been officially appointed CBS Sports' lead NFL game analyst and signed a new multi-year deal with the network, CBS announced Thursday morning. The contract makes Watt the network's top analyst not just for this season but for "many years to come," and cements his move from elite defensive player to the broadcast booth's highest-profile role.
Under the new arrangement, Watt will continue to call the network’s top games alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson, a pairing that CBS confirmed will include next season’s Super Bowl. The promotion follows Watt’s elevation up the depth chart earlier this year and formalizes him as the face of CBS’ NFL game coverage.
Path to the top of the CBS announce team
After former lead analyst Tony Romo was sidelined following an OWI arrest this summer, the former Houston Texans legend was moved up the depth chart to work alongside Jim Nantz. Once Romo and CBS parted ways, Watt served as the network's lead analyst for the remainder of the season, and he has signed a multi-year deal to remain CBS’ lead NFL game analyst, calling the network’s top games alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
The network’s decision to promote Watt came as the season approached; with lead analyst Tony Romo sidelined after an OWI arrest, CBS had moved Watt up the depth chart alongside Jim Nantz, and after Romo and CBS parted ways the lead job fell to Watt for the duration of the season. The official signing on Thursday converted that interim arrangement into a multi-year appointment, and Watt will continue to call the network’s top games alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
Watt’s rise to lead analyst is a notable step in his post-playing career. The former Houston Texans star has transitioned into broadcasting in recent seasons, and the multi-year deal places him in charge of calling CBS’ marquee NFL matchups moving forward.
The announcement gives CBS stability at its lead analyst position and hands Watt a prominent platform — including the network’s biggest game assignments — for the near future. Watt will now assume those responsibilities under the terms of the new contract while continuing to work with the established on-air team of Nantz and Wolfson.
The promotion and contract were confirmed by CBS as part of its reshaping of the top of its NFL coverage this season, concluding the network’s search for a long-term successor at lead analyst after the departure of Romo. For Watt, the deal is a definitive step into a sustained broadcasting role at the highest level of NFL television coverage.
