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J.J. Watt is moving up the ladder in his post-playing career, at least for the time being.
CBS Sports announced Friday, July 31 that Watt will take over as their lead NFL analyst while Tony Romo is on leave.
The broadcast company placed the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on leave "until further notice" after he was arrested for suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence on Thursday, July 23.
Watt, 37, will join CBS Sports' top NFL crew – which also includes play-by-play man Jim Nantz in the broadcast booth and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson – to start the 2026 season. CBS Sports has not yet announced who will replace Watt on their No. 2 team, which features play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle and sideline reporter Evan Washburn.
TONY ROMO: NFL analyst placed on leave by CBS following arrest on suspicion of OWI
Watt's promotion to lead CBS on NFL game analyst is especially notable given it comes just over one year after the network first announced he would join Eagle and the No. 2 broadcast team. The 12-year NFL veteran's CBS gig started in 2023, when he joined CBS Sports' "The NFL Today" as a studio analyst.
Prior to that, Watt had retired from his playing career following the 2022 season. Over 10 years with the Houston Texans, he accumulated five Pro Bowl nods, five first-team All-Pro honors and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Watt played his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, recording 13.5 sacks in 23 games.
Here's what we know about the latest news in Watt's broadcasting career:
TONY ROMO ARREST: Former Cowboys QB detained, released in Wisconsin on suspicion of OWI. What we know
In June 2023, six months after Watt's final game, CBS Sports announced that the three-time DPOY was joining the team as a studio analyst on "The NFL Today."
"I love the game too much to be away from it entirely. I'm very excited to be joining CBS Sports to contribute across all their NFL shows and platforms, including working alongside and learning from JB, Coach, Boomer, Phil and Nate this fall," Watt said in a statement at the time. "Hopefully fans will enjoy the insights and knowledge I've gained over my 12 years in the NFL and if we're lucky, we'll share a few laughs along the way as well."
CBS Sports announced that they were moving Watt from his studio analyst role to a game analyst gig on March 26, 2025. Since Watt was starting out as the No. 2 analyst behind Romo, he was paired with Eagle – who was named the National Sports Media Association's Sportscaster of the Year in 2024 – in the broadcast booth.
"There is nothing better than the energy and excitement of being in the stadium on game day in the NFL," Watt said in a March 2025 statement. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to return to that atmosphere each week, working with one of the best in Ian. While I certainly miss delivering hits on the field, it will be nice to leave the stadium without taking any, unless Ian decides to try something crazy."
Watt made his CBS debut during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets Week 1 matchup and continued his weekly gig as a game analyst throughout the 2025 regular season. While he did not call any playoff games from the booth last year, Watt did join ESPN's "Manningcast" alternate broadcast with Peyton and Eli Manning during the Texans' wild-card game against the Steelers.
TONY ROMO BODYCAM: Former QB says he's going to grandparents house in footage from arrest
Fans were impressed with Watt's broadcast debut. After Week 1, several users took to social media to compliment the former edge rusher for his analysis.
"So @JJWatt is really good in the booth," one person wrote.
"Just gonna call it. @JJWatt is far better than any player announcer to retire to the booth in a long time," another user said. "A lot of these dudes on Saturday need to also study him. No yelling/screaming. Just intelligent & at times humorous insight."
"J.J. Watt crushed it today," ESPN radio host Jake Asman said. "Sharp, entertaining, and not the slightest bit of a homer. CBS putting him with Ian Eagle was a masterstroke. That's an elite broadcast team."
"Might be the best color commentator already," former Steeler and two-time Super Bowl champion Trai Essex wrote. "No exaggeration. Called an excellent game today."
Continue reading...
CBS Sports announced Friday, July 31 that Watt will take over as their lead NFL analyst while Tony Romo is on leave.
The broadcast company placed the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on leave "until further notice" after he was arrested for suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence on Thursday, July 23.
Watt, 37, will join CBS Sports' top NFL crew – which also includes play-by-play man Jim Nantz in the broadcast booth and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson – to start the 2026 season. CBS Sports has not yet announced who will replace Watt on their No. 2 team, which features play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle and sideline reporter Evan Washburn.
TONY ROMO: NFL analyst placed on leave by CBS following arrest on suspicion of OWI
Watt's promotion to lead CBS on NFL game analyst is especially notable given it comes just over one year after the network first announced he would join Eagle and the No. 2 broadcast team. The 12-year NFL veteran's CBS gig started in 2023, when he joined CBS Sports' "The NFL Today" as a studio analyst.
Prior to that, Watt had retired from his playing career following the 2022 season. Over 10 years with the Houston Texans, he accumulated five Pro Bowl nods, five first-team All-Pro honors and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Watt played his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, recording 13.5 sacks in 23 games.
Here's what we know about the latest news in Watt's broadcasting career:
TONY ROMO ARREST: Former Cowboys QB detained, released in Wisconsin on suspicion of OWI. What we know
J.J. Watt broadcast history
In June 2023, six months after Watt's final game, CBS Sports announced that the three-time DPOY was joining the team as a studio analyst on "The NFL Today."
"I love the game too much to be away from it entirely. I'm very excited to be joining CBS Sports to contribute across all their NFL shows and platforms, including working alongside and learning from JB, Coach, Boomer, Phil and Nate this fall," Watt said in a statement at the time. "Hopefully fans will enjoy the insights and knowledge I've gained over my 12 years in the NFL and if we're lucky, we'll share a few laughs along the way as well."
CBS Sports announced that they were moving Watt from his studio analyst role to a game analyst gig on March 26, 2025. Since Watt was starting out as the No. 2 analyst behind Romo, he was paired with Eagle – who was named the National Sports Media Association's Sportscaster of the Year in 2024 – in the broadcast booth.
"There is nothing better than the energy and excitement of being in the stadium on game day in the NFL," Watt said in a March 2025 statement. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to return to that atmosphere each week, working with one of the best in Ian. While I certainly miss delivering hits on the field, it will be nice to leave the stadium without taking any, unless Ian decides to try something crazy."
Watt made his CBS debut during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets Week 1 matchup and continued his weekly gig as a game analyst throughout the 2025 regular season. While he did not call any playoff games from the booth last year, Watt did join ESPN's "Manningcast" alternate broadcast with Peyton and Eli Manning during the Texans' wild-card game against the Steelers.
TONY ROMO BODYCAM: Former QB says he's going to grandparents house in footage from arrest
Reviews of J.J. Watt's broadcast work
Fans were impressed with Watt's broadcast debut. After Week 1, several users took to social media to compliment the former edge rusher for his analysis.
"So @JJWatt is really good in the booth," one person wrote.
"Just gonna call it. @JJWatt is far better than any player announcer to retire to the booth in a long time," another user said. "A lot of these dudes on Saturday need to also study him. No yelling/screaming. Just intelligent & at times humorous insight."
"J.J. Watt crushed it today," ESPN radio host Jake Asman said. "Sharp, entertaining, and not the slightest bit of a homer. CBS putting him with Ian Eagle was a masterstroke. That's an elite broadcast team."
"Might be the best color commentator already," former Steeler and two-time Super Bowl champion Trai Essex wrote. "No exaggeration. Called an excellent game today."
Continue reading...
