J.J. Watt Joins CBS as NFL Game Analyst Amid Major Broadcast Changes

NEW YORK, New York — In a significant shakeup within CBS Sports, future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt is set to join the network as an NFL game analyst this season. Pairing with well-known broadcaster Ian Eagle, Watt will be part of CBS’s No. 2 team, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

This transition comes as Charles Davis, Eagle’s previous partner, prepares to move into college football. Davis will replace Gary Danielson, who CBS announced will retire after the upcoming season. Danielson has had a long and storied career, spanning 36 years in broadcasting.

Davis has been a part of CBS’s NFL broadcasts since 2020, after switching from Fox, where he called both NFL and college games. He previously covered three BCS National Championship games from 2007 to 2009. Though his contract with CBS was set to renew, he accepted a position as the lead analyst for Big Ten games alongside Brad Nessler, which will begin in 2026.

Watt, who previously contributed to CBS’s NFL Today pregame show, developed a passion for live game analysis after collaborating with Ian Eagle during a Christmas Day game for Netflix. Sources revealed that CBS is still determining Davis’s role in the NFL for the upcoming season before his transition to college football.

In an official announcement, CBS confirmed Danielson’s retirement along with Davis’s new role. Danielson praised the opportunity he has had over the years, stating, “I have had the greatest seat in the house for 36 years and have loved every minute of it.”

He further explained, “I have discussed the timing of this moment with CBS Sports leadership over the past few years, and we felt it was important I remained with the team during our transition to the Big Ten. As we enter our second full season of Big Ten football and my 20th at CBS Sports, the timing just feels right.”

Danielson’s broadcasting career began after he played quarterback at Purdue and continued as a professional player for over a decade. He joined ESPN in 1990, where he served as a college football analyst until 2006, before joining CBS Sports, where he became synonymous with some of the biggest college football moments.

CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson praised Danielson’s contributions, stating, “Gary Danielson is simply one of the greatest college football analysts ever. And an even better teammate. Gary cares more about uplifting others and ensuring the team receives all the accolades.” He added, “During his 20 years here, he helped propel CBS Sports to the gold standard in college football coverage. We can’t thank him enough; he will always be part of the CBS Sports family and we wish him the best in retirement.”