Some of the biggest staples of NFL Sunday are the CBS pregame and halftime shows. A big reason why are the commentators that make up the panel each week.
Who are those familiar faces that break down the action each and every Sunday of the football season?
Who Are the CBS NFL Halftime Commentators in 2024?
The CBS NFL halftime commentators have changed a number of times over the past couple of decades. That includes this year, as the group has seen two staples leave.
James Brown will reprise his role of host and Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, and J.J. Watt will once again serve as analysts. Meanwhile, both Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason are out, while another former quarterback, Matt Ryan, is in.
Let’s take a brief dive into each of the five personalities who appear on the NFL Today Halftime Show on CBS.
James Brown | Host Since 2006
Brown, also known as “J.B.” by his colleagues, graduated from Harvard University with a degree in American Government, where he also played basketball and served as team captain during his senior year.
After a brief attempt to join the NBA, Brown transitioned to corporate America, where he worked until the mid-1980s. He began his broadcasting career at CBS in 1984, initially focusing on NBA coverage.
In 1987, Brown started calling NBA and NFL games as a play-by-play announcer. By the early 1990s, he expanded his role, working as a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals and MLB National League Championship Series, as well as serving as a studio host for the 1992 Winter Olympics.
In 1994, he joined FOX, where he hosted the NFL pregame show and FOX NHL Saturday. Brown returned to CBS in 2006 and has since been a key figure in their NFL coverage, taking on various roles.
J.J. Watt | Studio Analyst Since 2023
Watt, 35, is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who spent the majority of his 12-season career with the Houston Texans. Known for his dominant play on the field, Watt was named to the Pro Bowl five times and earned first-team All-Pro honors on five occasions.
After his outstanding contributions to the Texans, Watt was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor, and his iconic No. 99 jersey was retired by the team. He’ll also very likely have a claim to a first-ballot Hall of Fame entry in a few years.
Following the end of his playing career, Watt began his broadcasting career. He began working with CBS in 2023 in a limited capacity as an NFL analyst with this very crew. Now, with Esiason and Simms out, he’s filling that role on a full-time basis. Drawing from his extensive on-field experience, Watt has become a key voice in NFL coverage, providing in-depth analysis and commentary on various football broadcasts.
Nate Burleson | Studio Analyst Since 2017
Burleson, a former NFL wide receiver, was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft and played in the NFL for 11 years with the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Minnesota Vikings. In 2012, he attended a Broadcast Boot Camp organized by the NFL and began working as an analyst with NFL Network in 2014.
When NFL Network launched Good Morning Football (GMFB) in 2016, Burleson was selected as part of the inaugural cast alongside Kay Adams, Kyle Brandt, and Peter Schrager.
Burleson joined the NFL on CBS team in 2017 while retaining his co-host duties on GMFB. Burleson also served as the color commentator for the NFL Nickelodeon Wild Card games in 2021 and 2022. He joined CBS Mornings as a co-anchor in 2021 and became the host of Nickelodeon’s weekly highlight show.
Due to his increased commitments to CBS, he then left the cast of GMFB to focus fully on the company. Burleson has won two Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Analyst (2021 and 2022).
Matt Ryan | Studio Analyst Since 2024
Ryan, 39, is a one-time NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback who spent the majority of his 15-season career with the Atlanta Falcons.
On top of his accurate playing style, Ryan was known for leading the Falcons to Super Bowl LI in addition to setting numerous franchise records, including career passing yards and touchdowns. He sits in the Falcons Ring of Honor, and his No. 2 jersey is associated with his name by Falcons fans.
After retiring from playing, Ryan transitioned into broadcasting, joining CBS as an NFL game analyst in 2023 and also working in the studio during the 2023 postseason. With his understanding of the game as a former quarterback, Ryan has quickly established himself as a prominent voice in football coverage, offering insightful commentary and analysis during broadcasts.
Bill Cowher | Studio Analyst Since 2007
The now longest-tenured analyst of the bunch, Cowher played four years in the NFL between 1980-1984 before becoming one of the most successful NFL coaches in recent memory. Cowher spent 18 years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the team to the playoffs 10 times and winning the Super Bowl in 2005. Cowher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Following his retirement as the Steelers’ head coach in 2007, Cowher joined the NFL on CBS team, where he’s remained ever since. On the show, he’s often referred to as “coach.”
Who Else Appears as a CBS NFL Halftime Commentator?
CBS reporter Jonathan Jones appears on the show as Lead NFL Insider, giving insight on injuries, potential NFL moves, and more.
Previously, commentators on the NFL CBS Halftime Show have included Tony Gonzalez, Bart Scott, Shannon Sharpe, Dan Marino, Deion Sanders, Mike Ditka, Jim Nantz, Terry Bradshaw, and Brent Musburger.
