Jim Nantz, with nearly 40 years of experience at CBS Sports, has been the voice of many iconic sporting events. On Sunday, he will achieve a rare milestone that only a select few NFL announcers have reached. Nantz will mark his 500th NFL game as the play-by-play announcer when he covers the AFC wild-card round matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos.
According to CBS records, Nantz will be the first person in the network’s history to reach 500 games as a play-by-play announcer for the NFL. While legendary announcer Pat Summerall surpassed 500 games at CBS, he initially worked as an analyst before transitioning to play-by-play midway through the 1974 season.
Reflecting on this achievement, Nantz expressed his gratitude, stating, “That’s a lot of games. It’s just staggering.” He acknowledged the significant relationship between CBS and the NFL, emphasizing the honor of calling more NFL games play-by-play than any other announcer in the network’s history.
Nantz will join the ranks of the eighth NFL TV play-by-play announcer to reach 500 games, standing out as the only one to achieve this milestone with a single network. Notable announcers like Al Michaels, Dick Stockton, and Kevin Harlan are also part of this exclusive “500 Club.”
Having called his first NFL game for CBS in 1988, Nantz has amassed an impressive record, including 69 playoff games, seven Super Bowls, and 20 AFC championship games. Despite a brief hiatus when CBS temporarily lost NFL rights to Fox, Nantz returned to the booth in 2004 and has since become a fixture as the lead announcer for CBS.
Nantz’s dedication to his craft and passion for the NFL have solidified his legacy as one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting.
Jim Nantz has seen a revolving door of broadcast partners over the years, with regulars including Haden, Cross, Ken Stabler, Tim Brant, Hank Stram, and Dan Fouts. Bill Cowher and Boomer Esiason also made cameo appearances in the booth for single-game stints.
Nantz can recall a multitude of memorable moments from the first 499 games he’s called. One such highlight was calling Bill Belichick’s inaugural NFL game as a head coach when the Cleveland Browns faced off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 1, 1991. He fondly remembers officiating three games that culminated in Hail Mary passes, the most recent being Jayden Daniels’ impressive 52-yard scramble and throw to Noah Brown earlier this season, leading the Washington Commanders to victory over the Chicago Bears.
The seasoned broadcaster also had the privilege of commentating on Kansas City’s thrilling overtime triumph against San Francisco in last year’s Super Bowl, a game that went on to become the most-watched television program in U.S. history.
In addition to witnessing the inception of the Troy Aikman-Brett Favre rivalry, Nantz has been front and center for the epic showdowns between legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. He has also provided the play-by-play for the electrifying clashes between Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, having covered seven out of the eight matchups between the two star quarterbacks.
As Nantz approaches his 66th birthday on May 17, he shows no signs of slowing down, especially with two more playoff games awaiting his commentary after Sunday’s broadcast. Reflecting on his partnership with analyst Tony Romo, Nantz expressed his utmost enjoyment, stating, “My time with Tony, I’ve never enjoyed it more. I’m having more fun now than I ever have in my career. I’ve got a lot more work to do, but this is one of those weeks where you pause and think about the journey, how you got here and how fortunate you are.”
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