JJ Watt is swapping the pigskin for the microphone after CBS confirmed that he’s the new superstar signing for the American broadcaster’s NFL coverage.
The new football season is edging ever nearer, so networks in the US are looking to bolster their commentary and in-studio teams to draw maximum viewers. A legend of the game, Watt is a major coup for CBS and they’ve snapped him up on a multi-year deal likely to be worth millions.
He’ll make his debut on the magazine show The NFL Today on September 9th, during the first week of the new season, and also appear as an analyst on a range of programming through linear TV and online.
“I love the game too much to be away from it entirely,” said Watt, who retired at the end of last season following a successful career spent largely with the Houston Texans. “I’m very excited to be joining CBS Sports to contribute across all their NFL shows and platforms, including working alongside and learning from [fellow broadcasters] JB, Coach, Boomer, Phil and Nate this fall.
“Hopefully fans will enjoy the insights and knowledge I’ve gained over my 12 years in the NFL and if we’re lucky, we’ll share a few laughs along the way as well.”
Who is JJ Watt?
Watt’s name may also sound familiar to soccer fans. A keen Chelsea supporter, he’s always taken an interest in Premier League football and in May 2023 announced that he and his wife were minority owners in newly-promoted Burnley.
He immediately secured cult hero status for himself by going on a pub crawl, not just to sample the local ales but to get an authentic taste of life in the town and the thoughts and feelings of supporters.
“It’s research, I’m doing research and lots of pints of Guinness along the way,” he told the BBC.
Watt remains best known for American Football though and by the end of his career was seen as one of the best defensive linemen to ever grace the league, winning the Associated Press’s Defensive Player of the Year Award three times during his first five campaigns.
After spending his college years with Central Michigan and Wisconsin, he made the leap up to the pros when he signed an $14.25 million contract with the Texans in July 2011.
He signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2021, but his time with the team was plagued with injuries and he didn’t extend his two-year deal with the franchise, announcing his retirement in December 2022 and playing his final game against the San Francisco 49ers.
As a mark of his enduring legacy with the Texans, Watt will head back to Houston for the team’s clash with Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday October 1st, when he’ll be added to their Ring of Honor.
He’s only the third team legend to be added to the ring, following co-founder, senior chairman and chief executive Robert C. McNair and wide receiver Andre Johnson. “Humbled, honored and excited to be back,” Watt said at the time of the announcement.
Written and distributed by Chat T Sports.
