Viewers tuning into CBS’s broadcast of Minnesota’s 39-22 comeback victory over Green Bay on Sunday were rewarded with sharp insight before the opening snap.
When asked by play-by-play partner Jim Nantz about new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray, JJ Watt highlighted that Murray was facing former head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was dismissed by Arizona at the end of last season and now serves as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
“Let’s see what Gannon knows about Kyler and uses against him,” Watt told viewers.
One play later, Gannon sent a heavy Packers blitz against his former quarterback. Watt was heard saying “bringing the heat,” and seconds later, Murray threw into double coverage, intercepted by Green Bay cornerback Keisean Nixon. (Murray suffered a violent head collision on just the 11th snap and was ruled out with a concussion.)
“Jim, we wondered about the chess match between Gannon and Murray,” Watt said. “Gannon decided to send everybody in. Kyler Murray threw a panic pass. It stayed in the air forever! Easy pick for Nixon. That’s a perfect example of Gannon using his knowledge to get up in the face.”
It was a picture-perfect start for Watt, who never expected to be in the No. 1 chair this season. However, Watt’s situation changed after Tony Romo’s arrest in July, prompting CBS to place Romo on leave and move Watt up from the No. 2 team.
Romo later pleaded no contest to the civil offense of operating while intoxicated and posted a statement on Instagram, writing, “These are my failures and I take responsibility for them.”
CBS Sports president David Berson stated last month that no timeline exists for a decision on Romo’s future. Notably, he did not guarantee Romo’s return. Romo has four years remaining on an $18 million annual contract. On Sunday, a CBS spokesperson declined to comment on Romo, citing the company’s previous statement.
Watt’s ascension to the CBS No. 1 role is notable because NFL lead broadcasts have traditionally featured an offensive analyst, usually a quarterback (Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Phil Simms, and Romo being the most prominent examples).
Non-quarterback exceptions exist, though: Greg Olsen, a former tight end, was Fox’s No. 1 analyst before Brady; NBC’s Cris Collinsworth was a Pro Bowl wide receiver. In the past, CBS had Tom Brookshier, a former cornerback, and Pat Summerall, a kicker who transitioned from color analyst to play-by-play. This is separate from former coaches like John Madden and Jon Gruden, who often have experience on both sides of the ball.
“I always knew from studying defenses what they were doing, but I was never sitting in meetings with defensive coordinators asking, ‘How do you break down pass protections?’ Now I’m getting those answers and able to provide defensive analysis,” Olsen said in 2023. “You don’t always have to tell the viewer where the ball started and where it ended up. You can bring in the other elements that make football complicated but also so cool.”
Sunday’s broadcast was not perfect. Watt and Nantz lack the chemistry Watt shared with Ian Eagle; Eagle’s natural deadpan humor allowed Watt to inject levity. Watt is also less exuberant than Romo, and there is always an entertainment aspect to these broadcasts.
However, he was exceptionally well prepared and offered enough interesting observations to serve viewers well, especially in a wild game that turned on defense in the fourth quarter. Watt excels at analyzing defensive designs and broken line protections, and he was particularly strong on questionable Packers defensive penalties late in the game. He also called out Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson’s 39-yard second-quarter touchdown, urging Carson Wentz “to take a shot” on a free play when a Green Bay defender was clearly offsides. One word describes his performance: “solid.”
A decision on Romo’s future is expected soon, as all parties remain in limbo. Practical reasons also demand a resolution; behind-the-scenes staff, such as replay producers, need to know who the lead analyst is to do their jobs. CBS’s Week 2 and 3 NFL assignments should be announced as early as Monday, with Watt expected to be assigned to the No. 1 team.
Most sports media professionals do not expect Romo to return to CBS’s No. 1 team in 2026, though that remains speculation. Only Berson knows for sure, and the clock is ticking. The good news for CBS? On Sunday, Watt sounded like a solution for 2026.
