Legendary defensive end JJ Watt made his debut in the lead CBS Sports broadcast booth on Sunday, stepping in for Tony Romo during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Watt called the NFC North clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.
Watt's promotion to the network's top commentary team came after Romo was arrested for OWI in Milwaukee on July 23. Humiliating bodycam footage of the incident quickly went viral, and Romo pleaded no contest to the charge this week, reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in Wisconsin. CBS Sports placed Romo on indefinite leave following the arrest.
Viewers were divided on social media during Sunday's broadcast, with many taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their opinions on Watt's performance. Some fans expressed strong approval, with one user writing, "JJ Watt is SO much better on the mic than Tony Romo. Leave him with Jim Nantz." Another echoed this sentiment, stating, "JJ Watt is a way better listen than Tony Romo Hopefully this becomes permanent."
However, this was not a universal opinion. A significant portion of viewers criticized Watt's announcing. "JJ Watt has been atrocious," one user posted. Another commenter wrote, "I wasn't a big fan of Tony Romo but JJ Watt is a terrible announcer." Harsh assessments included "We need to have an honest conversation about how bad JJ Watt is at calling games" and "Get JJ Watt off my tv. This guy is brain dead."
Sports media insider John Ourand recently predicted that it is "95 percent" certain Romo will not return to CBS. "I think it's highly unlikely, and by highly unlikely, I think it's like 95 percent that he's not back at CBS," Ourand said on "The Powers That Be Daily." He added that while a scenario exists where Watt struggles and Romo could potentially return, "that's really unlikely to happen."
David Berson, CBS Sports' president, stated in early August that the company was still assessing the situation and had not established a timetable for a final decision. Ourand suggested that the release of Romo's arrest bodycam footage could further harm the network's brand if Romo makes "silly" comments in the booth, as he is "known for being like sillier than others." This could also present a financial opportunity for CBS, as Romo reportedly earns $18 million per year. Ourand believes negotiations will likely focus on a figure that would encourage Romo to depart without a fight.
Romo has agreed to have an ignition interlock device installed on all of his vehicles and faces a mandatory jail sentence for any future drinking-and-driving conviction within the next decade. He was also fined over $700, had his driver's license revoked for six months, and vowed to complete an alcohol assessment program. 
