Tony’s out and JJ’s here to stay.
CBS announced Wednesday it signed JJ Watt to a multi-year contract extension as its lead NFL game analyst, a role previously held by Tony Romo.
Romo joined CBS in 2017 and worked alongside Jim Nantz for nine seasons before an OWI arrest earlier this year ended his time with the company.
“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 press release. “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 (Wolfson) and many more Sundays to come!”
The deal’s terms were not yet announced, but Romo was paid handsomely in that role.
He had $72 million left on the remaining four years of his 10-year, $180 million contract, which the parties settled to allow CBS to move on from Romo and move forward with Watt, who originally replaced him on a temporary basis before CBS previously announced he would stay in the role through the season.
The NFL broadcasting booths are moving like musical chairs right now, as Troy Aikman is knee-deep in a beef with his partner, Joe Buck, over his contract dispute with ESPN.
With Aikman set for free agency, everyone is guessing who will take his place for “Monday Night Football,” with some speculating that Greg Olsen could head to ESPN after being demoted to Fox’s No. 2 booth and some projecting that current NFL coaches will leave their respective positions to sit next to Buck.
With Watt locked in at CBS, that’s one potential candidate off the table elsewhere, as they have one of the few stable teams in the industry at the moment.
Watt spent 12 seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Cardinals, being drafted No. 11 overall by Houston, and seems likely to land in the Hall of Fame.
His brother, TJ Watt, is a dominant pass rusher for the Steelers.
Watt joined CBS in 2023 originally as a studio analyst before being promoted for analyst duties last season, serving in the network’s No. 2 booth.
He and Nantz are set to call Sunday’s important Bengals-Ravens game in Baltimore, and in line to call Super Bowl 2028 for CBS.
