CBS Sports made it official Thursday: J.J. Watt is no longer just filling in. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has signed a new multiyear contract to become the network's full-time lead NFL game analyst, permanently taking over the booth seat once held by Tony Romo.

Watt, 37, will continue calling marquee Sunday matchups alongside play-by-play voice Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson — the same top broadcast team he'd been working with on an interim basis since early this season. Under the new deal, he's locked in to call Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta in February 2028, according to ESPN's report on the signing.

How Romo's seat opened up

Watt's promotion closes the book on a messy few months for CBS's top broadcast booth. Romo was placed on leave in July after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a traffic stop in Milwaukee. He pleaded no contest on Sept. 1 and had his driving privileges revoked for six months. CBS and Romo ultimately agreed to part ways entirely, ending a run in the booth that began in 2017 and included a landmark contract extension reported at roughly $18 million a year. One report indicated the network reached a financial settlement with Romo covering the remainder of his deal.

Watt stepped into the top chair on an interim basis once Romo's leave began, earning strong reviews for blending detailed tactical breakdowns with blunt, unvarnished commentary — a style that reportedly helped seal his case for the permanent job.

I LOVE THIS JOB AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YA SUNDAY WITH JIM AND TRACY.

That's how Watt reacted to the news, according to multiple outlets reporting on the announcement. CBS Sports chairman David Berson praised Watt's ability "to see things and communicate to fans of all levels," underscoring how quickly the network moved to lock down a replacement rather than conduct a prolonged search.

From the field to the booth

Watt retired from the NFL in 2022 after a career split between the Houston Texans, where he became one of the most dominant pass rushers of his generation, and a final stint with the Arizona Cardinals. He joined CBS as a studio analyst in 2023 before moving into the game broadcast booth last season, a rapid ascent that's now culminated in one of the most visible chairs in sports television.

Financial terms of Watt's new contract were not disclosed. His elevation also leaves CBS's No. 2 broadcast team, currently Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn, unchanged for now, with no word yet on further shuffling further down the network's broadcast depth chart.

What's next

Watt is expected to call CBS's next marquee Sunday window this weekend alongside Nantz and Wolfson. Romo's broadcasting future remains unclear; sports-media analysts have floated potential landing spots including Fox, golf coverage or streaming platforms, though nothing has been finalized.