J.J. Watt has broken his silence regarding his promotion to the No. 1 analyst position on CBS's NFL coverage, stating that while he is "incredibly excited about this opportunity," it comes under "not the circumstances" he had hoped for.
CBS Sports announced late last month that Watt would replace Tony Romo as the lead analyst. This move follows Romo's arrest in July on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Watt is set to be paired with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and reporter Tracy Wolfson. He shared his thoughts on the change via a post on X on Tuesday, also including a photo that appeared to be notes for an upcoming Week 1 game between the Packers and Vikings.
Watt, 37, joined CBS in 2023 after concluding his NFL career. He initially served as an analyst on the network's second broadcast team alongside Ian Eagle, taking over for Charles Davis. He is scheduled to begin his new role in Minnesota.
Tony Romo has been placed on leave by CBS "until further notice." On Tuesday, CBS Sports president David Berson stated there is "no timetable" for Romo's return, describing the situation as "evolving" and still under assessment. Berson declined to comment further on the legal aspects of the matter, citing it as a personnel and legal issue for Romo.
Romo was arrested on July 23 in Wisconsin and charged with operating while intoxicated, a traffic violation in the state. The fines associated with the charge amount to $1,568.50.