CBS announces Week 1 changes to 2026 NFL broadcast booths

August 11, 2026 - 17:05

CBS Sports used its annual media day on Tuesday to lay out a new lineup for its NFL coverage, and the changes start at the very top. The network spent less than three minutes addressing the biggest question of the day, confirming that Tony Romo is no longer part of the lead broadcast team. That decision set off a chain reaction across the entire roster, with J.J. Watt getting the promotion to the number one booth.

Watt will now call the network's top games each week, working alongside the veteran play-by-play man who has been the voice of the network's lead package for years. The move is a clear signal that CBS wants a fresher, more energetic presence in its most visible slot. Watt has been a natural in the booth since retiring from the field, and the network's executives believe he is ready for the bigger stage.

The changes do not stop there. Several other pairings have been reshuffled to fill the gaps left by the promotion. A few familiar faces are moving to new roles, and at least one analyst is stepping into a full-time position after spending last season as a fill-in. The network also added a new voice to its second-tier crew, pulling from the college ranks to bring a different perspective to Sunday afternoons.

CBS said the new alignments are designed to create more consistency across all its windows, from the early doubleheader games to the late afternoon slot. The company also hinted that more tweaks could come before training camps open, but for now, the core groups are set. Fans will get their first look at the new booths when the preseason schedule kicks off in August.