Former Sack Machine JJ Watt Trades Tackles for Talking Points on CBS

JJ Watt swaps helmets for a microphone and is ready to call the big plays—maybe even the commercials.

The former star is taking the helm of CBS’s NFL coverage, promising to keep the commentary as fierce as his on‑field play, but without the bruising.

In a move that has more drama than a Sunday‑night playoff game, the NFL’s most celebrated former defender has signed a multi‑year deal to become CBS Sports’ new lead NFL analyst.

The announcement came from Skydance’s global sports arm, with David Berson, Chairman of the Global Sports Group, unveiling the deal. Watt will sit beside the venerable Jim Nantz and other pundits, turning his knack for reading defenses into a skill for dissecting the game’s biggest moments.

Fans have already started joking that Watt will now be the one calling the “sack” on the opposing team’s play‑calling, and that his new “tackle” will be shutting down a bad commercial break.

Critics ask whether a former player can truly master the art of television, but Watt’s career has shown he can tackle anything—except maybe actually playing a game again.

The network is betting that his name will draw viewers who remember his prime days and are now ready to hear his take from the studio chair.