Some of the biggest staples of NFL Sunday are the CBS pregame and halftime shows. A big reason is the commentators who 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 2025?
The CBS NFL halftime cast has undergone several changes over the past couple of decades, including this year, as two longtime staples departed.
James Brown returns as host, while Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, and Matt Ryan continue as analysts following the exits of Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason last year.
Here’s a closer look at the five personalities featured on CBS’s NFL Today Halftime Show.
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 had expanded his duties, working as a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals and MLB National League Championship Series, and serving as a studio host for the 1992 Winter Olympics.
In 1994, Brown joined FOX, hosting the NFL pregame show and FOX NHL Saturday. He returned to CBS in 2006 and has since been a central figure in their NFL coverage, taking on a variety of roles.
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 continuing his co-host role on GMFB. He also served as the color commentator for the NFL Nickelodeon Wild Card games in 2021 and 2022 and became a co-anchor on CBS Mornings in 2021, later hosting Nickelodeon’s weekly NFL highlight show.
With his growing commitments at CBS, Burleson eventually left GMFB to focus fully on the network. He has earned two Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Analyst in 2021 and 2022.
Matt Ryan | Studio Analyst Since 2024
Ryan, 40, 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.
In addition to his accurate playing style, Ryan was known for leading the Falcons to Super Bowl LI and setting numerous franchise records, including career passing yards and touchdowns. He sits in the Falcons Ring of Honor, and Falcons fans associate his name with his No. 2 jersey.
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 longest-tenured analyst on the team, Cowher played four seasons in the NFL from 1980 to 1984 before becoming one of the most successful coaches in recent history. He spent 18 years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading them to 10 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory 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.”
J.J. Watt Moves to a New Role
Watt, 36, 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. With Esiason and Simms out last year, he filled that role on a permanent basis.
Watt is now on CBS’s No. 2 broadcasting team along with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn.
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.
