Hello Friends: Jim Nantz Renews With CBS Sports

Legendary sports broadcaster Jim Nantz has re-upped with CBS Sports.

Nantz’s longtime agent, Sandy Montag of The Montag Group, confirmed the 61-year-old play-by-play announcer has signed a contract extension with the network where he serves as the lead announcer on everything from from the NFL and NCAA men’s basketball tournament to the Masters and PGA Tour.

Montag confirmed the contract extension for Nantz but declined to discuss terms. ESPN was interested in the Hall of Fame broadcaster — but Nantz chose to stay with CBS, where he’s poised to call the Final Four as well as the 2021 Masters over the next three weeks. If he hadn’t signed, Nantz could have become a free agent this summer after 36 years at CBS.

CBS spokeswoman Jennifer Sabatelle confirmed a new agreement with Nantz but declined to give specifics on his deal.

In February, Nantz called his second Super Bowl with Tony Romo and sixth overall. He’s been at CBS since 1985, serving as the network’s lead play-by-play voice for NFL games since 2004. Nantz has been the lead voice of March Madness since 1991. According to CBS, he’s called play-by-play on more network broadcasts of the NCAA Final Four/Champion­ship game than any announcer in tournament history.

Nantz was making around $6 million annually under his previous deal compared to $17 million for Romo. During a press call in November, Nantz talked movingly about wanting to become the first broadcaster to call 50 Masters tournaments for CBS. That would take him through age 75 in 2035.