Jim Nantz backs Russell Wilson on CBS's The NFL Today
Jim Nantz has publicly endorsed Russell Wilson's move to CBS's The NFL Today, calling the retired Super Bowl-winning quarterback a "great addition" and a "class act" during a word-association segment at the 2026 CBS Sports NFL seminar. Wilson joined the pregame show in June after stepping away from the NFL following stints with Denver, Pittsburgh, and New York.
The endorsement from CBS's lead NFL play-by-play voice carries weight as Wilson tries to rebuild his public profile after a late-career slide. Nantz's comments arrived during a sit-down with Joe Musso at the network's annual NFL seminar in New York, where studio roster changes and booth shifts dominated the conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Jim Nantz called Russell Wilson a "great addition" and "class act" for CBS's The NFL Today.
- Wilson retired in June and joined the pregame studio after his post-Seattle playing career stalled.
- CBS is reshuffling on air, with Tony Romo on leave and J.J. Watt now paired with Nantz.
- Wilson's Seattle legacy is drawing fresh debate as Sam Darnold leads the Seahawks toward another Super Bowl run.
- Nantz also praised Kyle Long, another new NFL Today addition, as a "natural-born communicator."
Why did Russell Wilson join CBS's The NFL Today?
Russell Wilson officially retired from the NFL in June and moved directly into broadcasting with CBS's The NFL Today. The former Seattle Seahawks quarterback won a Super Bowl in Seattle and was once viewed as a future Hall of Famer before his production dropped sharply with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants.
Wilson now faces the challenge of translating his generally agreeable personality into studio analysis and criticism. Observers have noted it will be worth watching whether his on-air style can help him regain favor with audiences who watched his playing career fade. For more sports-business crossover coverage, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
What did Jim Nantz say about Russell Wilson?
During a roughly 10-minute interview at the 2026 CBS Sports NFL seminar, Nantz and Musso played a word-association game near the end of their chat. When Musso said Wilson's name, Nantz answered immediately: "Great addition for CBS. Class act."
Nantz was not alone in backing a newcomer. He also offered a vote of confidence to Kyle Long, another addition to The NFL Today, saying Long was "raised in understanding the importance of turning a phrase, having an opinion, doing it with grace and class" and calling him "a natural-born communicator."
The remarks were reported by Awful Announcing, which covered Nantz's appearance at CBS's annual NFL Media Day gathering in New York.
How does Wilson's CBS role fit amid broader network changes?
Wilson's studio hire sits alongside larger upheaval at NFL on CBS. In July, the network placed Tony Romo on leave "until further notice" after Romo was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Romo received citations for an open alcoholic beverage, operating while under the influence, and unsafe passing on the right.
Nantz and Romo had shared CBS's top NFL booth since 2017, but Nantz now works with J.J. Watt. Nantz declined to comment on Romo's arrest while offering support to "a great friend of mine," and he spoke glowingly of Watt as "a very, very talented communicator" who earned the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year awards.
Could Sam Darnold reshape Russell Wilson's Seattle legacy?
While Wilson pivots to broadcasting, his Seattle tenure is facing new scrutiny on the field. With Sam Darnold leading the Seahawks, some analysts argue Seattle fans may eventually rethink Wilson's legacy if Darnold sustains success.
Wilson remains the franchise's most recognizable quarterback and a Super Bowl winner whose jersey retirement has been widely discussed. Yet Darnold, one season into his Seahawks tenure, is already running it back to defend a Super Bowl title. Analysts note Darnold's style may offer more longevity, and if Seattle wins one or two more championships with him, there is a "strong argument" for viewing his Seattle career as greater than Wilson's by wins alone.
ESPN's Seth Walder has predicted Darnold may not remain in Seattle beyond 2028, citing a mid-season QBR slump last year. Even so, Wilson's move to CBS marks a fresh chapter while his on-field legacy in Seattle stays actively debated.