CBS is adding three former NFL stars—three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, 2016 MVP Matt Ryan, and Super Bowl LIII champion Jason McCourty—as new analysts for its upcoming season’s NFL coverage.
The recently retired Watt will appear on the NFL Today studio show hosted by James Brown throughout the season, with returning analysts Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Nate Burleson, and Jonathan Jones.
Ryan, the free-agent quarterback released after playing for the Indianapolis Colts last season, has yet to retire from the NFL but will occasionally be in the broadcast booth as a guest analyst for CBS this season. He’ll call games on CBS alongside Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, and AJ Ross.
CBS’s top-three NFL broadcast teams will remain unchanged from last season. The top booth includes Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson, followed by the second-team Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn, and third-team Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, and Melanie Collins.
CBS will have seven different broadcast teams calling NFL games this season. Jason McCourty, the longtime NFL defensive back who retired after the 2021 season, will call select games this year for CBS alongside newly-added play-by-play announcer Chris Lewis and fellow analyst Ross Tucker.
In addition to CBS, Jason McCourty will continue his TV hosting job with Good Morning Football on NFL Network and radio gig with Westwood One, where he called Thursday Night Football games last season. His twin brother, fellow retired NFL defensive back Devin McCourty, will join NBC’s Football Night in America pre-game show this NFL season.
![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald on the sideline against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/USATSI_28190748_168416386_lowres.jpg?quality=80&w=300)
