Tony Romo Leaves CBS: J.J. Watt Takes Over and How to Watch NFL on CBS

Updated Oct. 26, 2026: rewritten with CBS’s permanent replacement for Tony Romo and a full guide to watching NFL on CBS without cable.

Quick answer: CBS and Tony Romo parted ways on Oct. 2, 2026, ending his nine-year run as the network’s lead NFL analyst. In late October, CBS named J.J. Watt its permanent lead analyst on a multi-year deal, working with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. To watch NFL on CBS without cable, the cheapest way is a free TV antenna. The cheapest streaming way is Paramount+ Essential at $8.99 a month, which includes NFL on CBS.

This guide covers what changed in the CBS booth, who calls the games now, and every legal way to watch NFL on CBS without a cable bill, from free antennas to the cheapest streaming plan. If you only want to watch your local team on Sunday afternoons, you may not need to pay anything at all. We also explain which games CBS carries, how Paramount+ plans compare and the mistakes that cost football fans money.

Ways to watch NFL on CBS at a glance

Paramount+ prices are US prices that took effect for new subscribers on Jan. 15, 2026, and exclude tax. Check the Paramount+ site for current deals.

What happened with Tony Romo

CBS announced on Oct. 2, 2026, that it and Romo had agreed to part ways. Romo, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, had called CBS’s top NFL games since 2017 with play-by-play voice Jim Nantz.

News reports said the split followed Romo’s July arrest on a drunk-driving charge. Reports said he pleaded no contest to a first-offense citation and had his license suspended for six months. He had been off the air before the announcement.

J.J. Watt, the former Houston Texans star, filled in as lead analyst early this season. ESPN and Yahoo Sports reported that CBS then made Watt’s job permanent with a multi-year deal. Watt is set to call Super Bowl LXII with Nantz and Wolfson in Atlanta after the 2027 season.

Who calls CBS’s top NFL games now

How to watch NFL on CBS without cable: 5 steps

1. Check your CBS signal. Enter your ZIP code on the FCC’s DTV reception maps to see which stations reach your home.
2. Try an antenna first. An indoor or attic antenna can pull in CBS for free in many areas. Place it high, near a window.
3. If you need streaming, start with Paramount+ Essential. At $8.99 a month, it includes NFL on CBS.
4. Pick a device. Paramount+ works on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, smart TVs, game consoles and phones.
5. Cancel in the offseason. If you only watch football, pause or cancel after the season to save money.

Also read: How to Watch NFL Without Cable

Which NFL games air on CBS?

CBS mainly carries AFC games on Sunday afternoons, plus some playoff games. Which game you see depends on where you live. Local markets usually get their home team’s games. Fox carries most NFC Sunday afternoon games, NBC has Sunday Night Football, ESPN and ABC have Monday Night Football, and Amazon Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football.

Paramount+ Essential vs. Premium for football fans

If you only care about the games, Essential is the money-saving pick.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Paying for a big live TV bundle when an antenna or Paramount+ covers your team.
• Buying Sunday Ticket for local games. It does not include your local CBS or Fox games.
• Forgetting to cancel after the Super Bowl.
• Using illegal streams. They can carry malware and scams.
• Ignoring yearly plans. Paramount+’s annual plan can cost less than paying month to month all year.

Romo’s legacy in the booth

Romo joined CBS in 2017, right after retiring as a player, with no broadcasting experience. He quickly became known for predicting plays before the snap, and his energy made him one of TV’s most talked-about analysts. In 2020, he signed a deal reported to be worth about $17 million a year, one of the largest in sports broadcasting at the time.

Over time, some fans and critics said his calls had grown less sharp. The split in October 2026 closed a run that included several Super Bowl broadcasts with Nantz.

What J.J. Watt brings

Watt was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Houston Texans and joined CBS as a studio and game analyst after retiring. He brings a defensive player’s view to a booth that had long been led by a quarterback. Early reviews of his work this season helped him win the permanent job, ESPN reported.

How to set up an antenna for CBS games

1. Find your CBS tower direction using the FCC’s reception maps or a free antenna app.
2. Choose the right antenna. Flat indoor antennas work near cities. Attic or rooftop antennas reach farther.
3. Connect it to your TV’s “Antenna/Cable In” port and run a channel scan from the TV’s settings menu.
4. Move it and rescan if CBS doesn’t come in. Small changes in height or position can make a big difference.
5. Rescan every few months. Stations sometimes change frequencies.

If you want to record games from an antenna, an over-the-air DVR box can store games to watch later.

Other ways to watch NFL games this season

An antenna alone covers CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC games in many areas, which is most of the season.

What if CBS doesn’t come in at all?

Some rural homes are too far from a CBS tower, and some apartments block signals. If an antenna fails after you try different spots and a rescan:

• Use Paramount+ Essential, which streams NFL on CBS games for your market.
• Check a live TV service’s free trial to confirm it carries your local CBS station before you pay.
• Ask your landlord whether the building has a shared antenna or rooftop hookup.
• Watch at a friend’s house or a sports bar for the occasional big game.

Key dates to watch

• Sundays through early January: Regular-season CBS games.
• January 2027: NFL playoffs, with games on CBS and other networks.
• After the 2027 season: Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta on CBS, per reports.

FAQ

Why did Tony Romo leave CBS?

CBS said on Oct. 2, 2026, that both sides agreed to part ways. News reports linked the split to his July drunk-driving arrest.

Who replaced Tony Romo on CBS?

J.J. Watt, who signed a multi-year deal as CBS’s permanent lead NFL analyst.

Does Paramount+ Essential include NFL games?

Yes. NFL on CBS is included in Essential, which costs $8.99 a month in the US.

Can I watch CBS NFL games for free?

Yes, with a TV antenna if you can receive your local CBS station.

Is NFL on CBS on YouTube TV?

YouTube TV carries local CBS stations in most markets, but it costs much more than Paramount+ or an antenna.

Bottom line

The Romo era at CBS is over, and J.J. Watt is now the voice beside Jim Nantz. For viewers, nothing changes about where to watch. Start with a free antenna, and if that doesn’t work, Paramount+ Essential at $8.99 a month is the cheapest legal way to stream NFL on CBS.

Last reviewed: Oct. 26, 2026. Streaming prices change; check each service before you subscribe.

Sources: ESPN; Yahoo Sports; Paramount+; FCC DTV reception maps; TechRadar: Paramount+ prices.

Featured image: CBS Sports broadcast booth at a college football game. Photo: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; edited by Nexgen Headlines.

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