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JJ Watt is taking over for Tony Romo as CBS' lead football analyst
CBS’ breakup with Tony Romo is officially complete. On Thursday, the network announced it had signed future Hall of Fame defensive end J.J. Watt as its new lead analyst.
CBS Sports announced Thursday that former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt signed a multi-year agreement to be lead analyst for NFL on CBS.
J.J. Watt signed a multi-year deal to be lead analyst for NFL on CBS and call games with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson
Watt will call the network’s top games alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, and the lead team will call Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who had been CBS’ lead analyst since 2017, was arrested in Wisconsin on July 23 on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Earlier this month, CBS announced it and Romo “mutually agreed to part ways.”
While Romo was immensely popular when his broadcasting career began, the perception of his quality as a broadcaster has waned in recent years.
Watt entered 2026 as CBS’ No. 2 analyst, working with Ian Eagle, and was elevated to work with Nantz while Romo was out.
Watt joined CBS in 2023 as a studio analyst on The NFL Today before moving to the booth last season. David Berson, chairman of Skydance’s Global Sports Group, praised him in the release. “He’s insightful, entertaining, passionate, meticulous in his preparation, and the ultimate teammate,” Berson said.
“I love this job and can’t wait to see ya Sunday with Jim and Tracy and many more Sundays to come!” Watt said of the extension.
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.
What an honor & privilege.
Grateful
🙏🏻 https://t.co/9tNPRx94bL— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 22, 2026
Despite his awkward exit from CBS, Nantz said on a podcast earlier this month that he believes Romo will work in broadcasting again, and that his friendship with Romo will continue.