Jim Nantz has been a prominent figure in CBS Sports for almost four decades, covering various significant events. On Sunday, he will commemorate an extraordinary achievement, becoming one of the few NFL play-by-play announcers to reach the milestone of 500 games. This landmark event will take place during the AFC wild-card round match where the Buffalo Bills will face the Denver Broncos.
Nantz’s accomplishment is distinctive as he becomes the first play-by-play announcer in CBS’s illustrious NFL history to achieve 500 games. While legend Pat Summerall surpassed 500 games during his tenure, he originally started as an analyst in 1962 before transitioning to play-by-play midway through the 1974 season. Nantz expressed his amazement at this milestone, acknowledging the rich history between the league and CBS. He remarked on the significance of being recognized for calling the most NFL games in the network’s history, which holds great meaning to him.
With this achievement, Nantz will join the ranks of eight NFL play-by-play announcers who have hit the 500-game mark, being the second to do so exclusively with one network. Kenny Albert reached this milestone earlier in the season while calling a game between the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Research indicates that Nantz joins an esteemed group of announcers in The 500 Club, which includes Al Michaels, Dick Stockton, Don Criqui, Summerall, Kevin Harlan, and Charlie Jones. Joe Buck is approaching the milestone with 494 games under his belt, as he prepares for an upcoming NFC wild-card game. Sunday marks Nantz’s 69th playoff game, which includes seven Super Bowls and 20 AFC championship matches, bringing his total regular-season games to 431.
Nantz’s journey began on October 16, 1988, when he called his first NFL game for CBS—a thrilling contest where the Indianapolis Colts triumphed over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He gradually became a regular presence on the network starting in 1991. After CBS lost NFL broadcasting rights to Fox in the late 1990s, Nantz took a hiatus from calling games but returned in 2004 following CBS’s reinstatement of the NFL contract.
During his absence from the booth, Nantz hosted “The NFL Today” for six seasons. In 1997, he faced an opportunity to host “Good Morning America” on ABC, but CBS Sports president Sean McManus persuaded him to remain at CBS, promising that they would reclaim the NFL rights. On January 12, 1998, that promise was fulfilled, allowing Nantz to return to his passion.
Following his comeback, his first game back was a matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders. Currently, he is in his 21st season as CBS’s lead announcer, with the first 13 years partnered with Phil Simms, and Tony Romo taking over as lead analyst in 2017. Nantz has collaborated with various other partners throughout his career, including Pat Haden and Tim Brant.
Reflecting on his 499 games, Nantz has plenty of memorable moments, such as covering Bill Belichick’s inaugural game as a head coach. He has witnessed thrilling conclusions, including three games ending with Hail Mary passes and particularly notable matches featuring star players like Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning, as well as the recent competitive series between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
As Nantz prepares to mark this significant milestone, he shows no signs of slowing down, especially with two more playoff games ahead. He expressed deep satisfaction with his work alongside Romo, sharing that he has never felt happier in his career. The upcoming weekend serves as a moment of reflection for him, emphasizing the importance of the journey he has taken as a prominent voice in the world of sports broadcasting.
