CBS NFL Announcers 2026: Nantz & Watt, All 6 Crews & The NFL Today
CBS NFL announcers in 2026 are led by Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt and Tracy Wolfson. Watt took the lead analyst seat after Tony Romo was placed on leave following his July 23 arrest, and on October 2 CBS and Romo parted ways. Watt then signed a multi-year deal as the permanent No. 1 analyst.
Six booths call CBS games each Sunday, with Gene Steratore as rules analyst. Here is every crew, who calls which game, The NFL Today desk and what changed this year.
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Who are the CBS NFL Announcer Teams in 2026?
| Team | Play-by-play | Analyst | Sideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Jim Nantz | J.J. Watt | Tracy Wolfson |
| No. 2 | Ian Eagle | Ross Tucker | Evan Washburn |
| No. 3 | Kevin Harlan | Trent Green | Melanie Collins |
| No. 4 | Andrew Catalon | Logan Ryan | A.J. Ross |
| No. 5 | Spero Dedes | Adam Archuleta | Aditi Kinkhabwala |
| No. 6 | Tom McCarthy | Robert Turbin | Tiffany Blackmon |
Crews are listed in the order CBS assigns games: the No. 1 team gets the biggest AFC matchup of the week, usually in the 4:25 PM ET window, and the No. 6 team a regional game. The crew list comes from CBS Sports’ September 2026 lineup as reported by NBC Sports, and the Watt contract from the AP on October 22, 2026.
What Happened with Tony Romo?
Romo had been CBS’s lead analyst beside Nantz since 2017. He was arrested in Wisconsin on July 23, 2026 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and CBS placed him on leave on July 31. Watt, who had called games on the No. 2 team in 2025, was moved up for the start of the season.
Romo said on September 1 that he planned to return in time, but on October 2 CBS announced the two sides had agreed to part ways. On October 20 CBS made Watt the permanent lead analyst on a multi-year deal.
Who is in the CBS No. 1 Booth?
Jim Nantz
Nantz has called CBS’s lead NFL game since 2004 and joined the network in 1985. He has called six Super Bowls as play-by-play announcer and also anchors CBS’s golf and college basketball coverage.
J.J. Watt
Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year with the Texans, joined CBS in 2023 on The NFL Today after a 12-year career with Houston and Arizona. He moved to the booth in 2025 beside Ian Eagle and to the No. 1 team in 2026. His first game as lead analyst was Packers at Vikings in Week 1.
Tracy Wolfson
Wolfson has been CBS’s lead NFL sideline reporter since 2014 and has worked every CBS Super Bowl since Super Bowl 50.
Who is on the NFL Today in 2026?
The NFL Today, CBS’s pregame show, airs at 12:00 PM ET on Sundays. James Brown hosts with Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Nate Burleson and Matt Ryan. Watt left the desk when he moved to full-time game duty, so the show runs with its core cast. Gene Steratore, the former NFL referee, is the rules analyst across CBS games.
Which CBS Crew Calls the Big Games?
| Game | Date | Crew |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving early game: Bears at Lions | Thursday, November 26, 1:00 PM ET | Nantz, Watt, Wolfson |
| Week 15 Saturday night: Bears at Bills | Saturday, December 19, 8:20 PM ET | Nantz, Watt, Wolfson |
| AFC Wild Card and Divisional games | January 16 to 24, 2027 | No. 1 and No. 2 teams |
| AFC Championship Game | Sunday, January 31, 2027 | Nantz, Watt, Wolfson |
CBS posts its weekly assignments on Tuesday. For every CBS game this week and the full season with scores, see the CBS NFL schedule.
What Changed from 2025?
- J.J. Watt replaces Tony Romo on the No. 1 team, now permanently.
- Ross Tucker joins Ian Eagle on the No. 2 team, taking the seat Watt left.
- Logan Ryan is the No. 4 analyst with Andrew Catalon.
- The other booths, the sideline reporters and The NFL Today desk are unchanged.
For the other networks, see our FOX NFL announcers and NBC NFL announcers guides.
CBS NFL Announcers FAQ
Who are the CBS NFL announcers in 2026?
Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt and Tracy Wolfson lead six teams; the others are Eagle and Tucker, Harlan and Green, Catalon and Ryan, Dedes and Archuleta, and McCarthy and Turbin, with Gene Steratore as rules analyst.
Is Tony Romo still on CBS?
No. CBS placed Romo on leave after his July 23, 2026 arrest and announced on October 2 that the two sides had parted ways.
Who replaced Tony Romo on CBS?
J.J. Watt. He filled in from Week 1 and signed a multi-year deal as the permanent lead analyst on October 20, 2026.
Who is on The NFL Today?
James Brown hosts with Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Nate Burleson and Matt Ryan at 12:00 PM ET on Sundays.
Who is the CBS rules analyst?
Gene Steratore, a former NFL referee who worked Super Bowl LII.
Who calls the AFC Championship Game on CBS?
Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt and Tracy Wolfson, on January 31, 2027.
Who are the CBS announcers for the Thanksgiving game?
The No. 1 team, Nantz, Watt and Wolfson, call Bears at Lions at 1:00 PM ET on November 26, 2026.
CBS NFL announcers in 2026 come down to one big change: J.J. Watt beside Jim Nantz, with Tony Romo gone after nine seasons. Check CBS’s Tuesday assignments to see which of the six crews has your game this Sunday.
