With the start of the National Football League’s regular season just over a month away, the NFL on CBS has announced its broadcast lineup for the year. Of course, the proceedings conclude with CBS Sports’ broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, the first under the NFL’s new media rights contract reportedly worth more than $12 billion annually. CBS Sports will also no longer be bound by a conference affiliation, meaning it has been granted a broader array of games and showcase matchups.
The marquee game of the week will be called by the lead broadcast team of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson, marking its seventh season together. Some of the matchups for the trio include the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys; the Christmas Day showdown featuring the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs and the AFC Championship Game. On Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, they will be present at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. to call the Super Bowl, following record-setting viewership last year on FOX Sports.
The secondary broadcast team consists of Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn, while the tertiary team consists of Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins – all consistent from last season. The significant change comes in the new fourth team after Greg Gumbel exited the network’s coverage of the National Football League. Taking his place is Andrew Catalon, who was promoted to the role and is now working with Tiki Barber and Matt Ryan in the network’s premier three-man broadcast booth.
Barber hinted at an expanded role with the NFL on CBS recently on WFAN, and is the new co-host of its afternoon drive program, Evan & Tiki. AJ Ross will remain as the reporter for these broadcasts, with its first assignment at 1 p.m. EST on Sept. 10 in a matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
Spero Dedes enters his 13th year calling games for the NFL on CBS, but will now be paired with a new analyst in Adam Archuleta. Last season, Archuleta was working with Catalon, but they have been split up since the network pivoted its announcing lineup. They will be joined by Aditi Kinkhabwala on the sidelines in the Week 1 game between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.
Philadelphia Phillies television voice Tom McCarthy will also be working in a three-man broadcast booth featuring James Lofton and Jay Feely. The network rounds out its broadcast teams with a rookie broadcast team of Chris Lewis, Jason McCourty and Ross Tucker, taking the air for the first time with the NFL on CBS. Additionally, Beth Mowins will call play-by-play of select NFL games throughout the season, who also works with ESPN and Marquee Sports Network. She calls her first game of the NFL season in Week 3 when the Baltimore Ravens host the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. EST.
Contributing across the broadcasts, Gene Steratore will also be returning as NFL rules analyst for his sixth year on CBS. Throughout each Sunday, various broadcasts will be turning to the former NFL official for expertise and insight. Furthermore, CBS Sports has added three new reporters – Tiffany Blackmon, Amanda Guerra and Justin Walters – to its lineup, and they will contribute throughout the season. In addition to Kinkhabwala, Amanda Renner will also return to the broadcast reporting lineup for the 2023 season.
The NFL Today lineup remains intact with returning host James Brown and analysts Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms. Joining the team this season is former superstar defensive end J.J. Watt for his first full time role in sports media since retiring. Watt was heavily pursued by various broadcast networks, including NBC Sports for its Big Ten coverage. Lastly, Jonathan Jones has retained his role as the lead NFL insider, bringing viewers inside information and unique perspectives about the league at large.
