Retired NFL star J.J. Watt is expected to join CBS's No. 2 NFL broadcasting team as an analyst for the 2025 season to work alongside Ian Eagle, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported on Wednesday. CBS confirmed the news shortly after.
This report comes after Eagle's former broadcasting partner Charles Davis was announced to switch to the college football team in 2026 following the retirement news of Gary Danielson. CBS is still working on Davis's role for this coming football season.
After Watt's retirement from the NFL following the 2022 season, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year joined CBS as a studio analyst for their pregame, halftime and postgame shows. His new role will be his first time working the live football games.
“There is nothing better than the energy and excitement of being in the stadium on game day in the NFL,” Watt said, via CBS's press release. “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 confirmed the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, by posting text screenshots of messages between him and his new broadcasting partner, Eagle. The messages quickly turned into jokes after Watt initially expressed how excited he was to work with Eagle this fall.
New partnership is off to a hot start… @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/EZk1eI2fd8
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 26, 2025
We'll see how this duo works together this fall.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as J.J. Watt Lands Big New NFL Announcing Role With CBS.
