Jim Nantz weighs in on Russell Wilson joining CBS’s ‘The NFL Today’

In June, Russell Wilson officially retired from the NFL and joined CBS’s The NFL Today.

Wilson won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks and was considered a future Hall of Fame quarterback before his playing career inexplicably fell off a cliff with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants.

Now, Wilson will try to regain the public’s favor as a broadcaster, and it will be fascinating to see how his generally agreeable personality translates into delivering analysis and criticism.

Jim Nantz, NFL on CBS’s lead play-by-play voice, isn’t worried.

Nantz sat down with Joe Musso at the 2026 CBS Sports NFL seminar in New York. Toward the end of their 10-minute chat, they played a word association game. As soon Musso said Wilson’s name, Nantz said, “Great addition for CBS. Class act.”

Nantz also gave a vote of confidence to Kyle Long, another The NFL Today addition: “Raised in understanding the importance of turning a phrase, having an opinion, doing it with grace and class. A natural-born communicator.”

Of course, The NFL Today roster shakeup is secondary to Nantz’s own booth.

In July, CBS put Tony Romo on leave “until further notice” after Romo was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. He received three citations: having “open bottle of of an alcoholic beverage,” operating while under the influence, and unsafe passing on the right. The bodycam footage was particularly humiliating for Romo.

Nantz and Romo have shared CBS’s top NFL booth since 2017, but Nantz now has a new teammate in J.J. Watt. Nantz spoke with Awful Announcing about the abrupt change at CBS’ annual NFL Media Day. While declining to comment on Romo’s arrest — instead offering his support to “a great friend of mine” — he spoke glowingly of Watt.

“[J.J. Watt] is a very, very talented communicator,” Nantz said. “When you win the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and you win the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award, which impresses me way more than anything he’s done in his legendary first-ballot Hall of Fame football career, that tells you that the man knows about leadership and he knows how to not only lead people, he knows how to deliver a message.”