The 2026 NFL season is finally upon us, and that means wall-to-wall coverage of the most valuable and dramatic sports league in the world.
The landscape of the league’s TV broadcasts continues to be ever-changing, with streaming giants Netflix stepping up their involvement after Amazon Prime Video revamped Thursday Night Football, while the usual players of ABC, FOX, NBC and CBS continue to be at the forefront of the league’s biggest moments.
It has been a turbulent offseason for some, with Tony Romo stood down from CBS Sports duty for the start of the season after his recent arrest and replaced by rising star JJ Watt.
Tom Brady has also made the most of his time away, helping reshape the Las Vegas Raiders before he returns to the Fox booth for year three of his 10-year, $375 million contract.
But among the new generation of analysts and experienced hands, who is the best of the bunch?
The Daily Mail breaks down and ranks the top analysts in the NFL booth as the action gets back underway…
Jason Kelce brings a unique element of star power thanks to his family dynamics, and he will now be making his way into the broadcast booth as an analyst for NFL Network on some International Series games.
The news was not met with the best reaction by fans, with many getting sick of the sight of Kelce on TV screens at almost every corner these days. But nobody can doubt the enthusiasm and energy he brings, and his knowledge as a former Super Bowl-winning center should not be underestimated.
Whether he can deliver that in a more serious and concise manner in an analyst role vastly different to the positions he has generally held, which have been better suited to showing off his personality, remains to be seen. On a reported three-year, $24million salary, the pressure is on. Watch this space.
Luke Kuechly will be the newest name in a top announcing role after he was picked up by Netflix in a surprising hire for its NFL team. Kuechly will partner Noah Eagle after reportedly wowing executives during a tryout to jump to the top of the line.
The former Carolina Panthers linebacker has always been a hugely popular figure among fans, and he will now look to take the success of that tryout into the public broadcast. The streaming giant has five NFL games this season, at an estimated cost of $500 million, meaning Kuechly has a small and irregular runway to work with but plenty of expectation.
The assignment begins in Australia as the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams, and also features Christmas Day action. Kuechly is not the traditional sort of hire to jump straight into a big role given he is not a former quarterback, which makes anticipation even higher to hear him in action.
It is claimed he had immediate chemistry with Eagle in their tryout, and their relationship in the booth will be something to watch as Netflix looks to stamp its authority on the NFL. It’s a bold move, but Netflix clearly believe it could be a masterstroke.
Total: 25/40
Luke Kuechly wowed Netflix executives to land the coveted analyst role for the company
8) Drew Brees
Network: FOX Partner: Adam Amin
Drew Brees is destined for the Hall of Fame as a player, but that didn’t initially translate to the broadcast booth. He had a short and ill-fated stint at NBC, but made a shock return with FOX last year when Mark Sanchez was stabbed and subsequently arrested.
He still has work to do, but Brees was much improved. He no doubt brings star power and a wealth of knowledge, but his popularity as a broadcaster is yet to take off, with his delivery sometimes flat compared to other voices. His chemistry with Adam Amin is still developing, with some awkward pauses as Brees gets to grips with his role, but improving all the time and potentially primed to continue rising from his current spot on the third-string FOX team.
Ratings: Star power 8/10, Knowledge 8/10, Popularity 4/10, Chemistry 5/10
Total: 25/40
Drew Brees is back for another shot in broadcasting after he replaced Mark Sanchez last year
7) Tony Romo
Network: CBS Partner: Jim Nantz
Tony Romo was the latest big-name quarterback to be tempted into the booth by a big deal after retirement, and unlike Brady, he hit the ground running. Romo earned rave reviews in his first year alongside Jim Nantz in 2017.
The former Cowboys quarterback was widely praised for his ability to call plays before they happened, often being teed up expertly by Nantz to outline exactly what was about to happen before it actually unfolded.
But as time has passed, the novelty has worn off. Romo has faced criticism for going off on tangents or telling confusing stories during games, or simply talking too much with his chemistry with Nantz seeming to get worse rather than better.
This offseason he’s become embroiled in scandal after his DWI arrest saw him stood down indefinitely by CBS, and while he says he intends to return, his future appears unclear. While his star power and knowledge cannot be questioned, his popularity is at a low point, while he’s also left Nantz to prepare for a new partner just weeks before the season.
Ratings: Star power 8/10, Knowledge 9/10, Popularity 2/10, Chemistry 6/10
Total: 25/40
Tony Romo is out at CBS for the start of the season after his arrest in the offseason
6) Greg Olsen
Network: FOX Partner: Joe Davis
Olsen was already preparing for his broadcast career as his playing days wound down, and the tight end slotted right into the picture seamlessly at FOX. But just as he was hitting his stride, he was replaced by the star power of Tom Brady, a demotion he knew was coming while he was earning strong reviews in his final year on the A-team.
Since then, Olsen has continued to impress on the No.2 broadcast. But while Brady continues to improve, the path back to the top job seems blocked at FOX, leading to speculation he could be in-demand elsewhere.
Olsen’s popularity has skyrocketed as a result of fans being sympathetic of his plight, and it will be fascinating to see if he gets another opportunity to take his talents elsewhere as a No.1 analyst at another company.
Ratings: Star power 4/10, Knowledge 7/10, Popularity 9/10, Chemistry 6/10
Total: 26/40
Greg OIsen lost his spot in the FOX No.1 crew when Tom Brady joined the network
5) J.J. Watt
Network: CBS Partner: Jim Nantz
Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is being thrown into the deep end as the lead CBS analyst to replace Tony Romo at the start of the season after his arrest. At this stage, we don’t know how his chemistry with Jim Nantz will unfold.
But Watt enters the role as something of a rising star. He had a very impressive debut season on the No.2 team alongside Ian Eagle, knowing when to interject with his thoughts and clearly offering an abundance of research and thoughtfulness to his new role.
Watt is one of the most likeable players in recent NFL history, and he’s now got a big opportunity to stake his claim for his rapid rise to step up a notch with Romo’s future up in the air.
Ratings: Star power 7/10, Knowledge 7/10, Popularity 7/10, Chemistry 5/10
Total: 26/40
JJ Watt is a rising star at CBS and is stepping in to replace Tony Romo to start the season
4) Kirk Herbstreit
Network: Amazon Prime Video Partner: Al Michaels
There are not many busier men in the industry than Kirk Herbstreit, as he juggles his ESPN College GameDay role with partnering Al Michaels in the Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football booth. And what he lacks in terms of resume as a player – he started a year at Ohio State and never made the grade in the NFL – he makes up for in enthusiasm.
Alongside the ageing Al Michaels, 81, Herbstreit brings much of the energy to the Prime Video broadcast. He’s become excellent at breaking the game down and offering natural insight into what is happening on the field.
He’s a safe pair of hands and an experienced operator on the call known for his calm, measured approach, even if he is possibly more at home in his college football capacity.
Ratings: Star power 4/10, Knowledge 9/10, Popularity 6/10, Chemistry 8/10
Total: 27/40
Kirk Herbstreit has partnered Al Michaels since Prime Video took over Thursday Night Football
3) Cris Collinsworth
Network: NBC Partner: Mike Tirico
Collinsworth might not have had a playing career to match Brady or Aikman. But these days, he’s known more as a broadcaster and his chemistry with Mike Tirico on the NBC A-team is the reason why.
Yes, he has his fair share of critics for his well-documented love of Patrick Mahomes. But his voice has become synonymous with Sunday Night Football and some of the NFL’s most memorable moments.
What he lacks in star power compared to other play-by-play commentators, he makes up for in his enthusiasm and engaging delivery.
Ratings: Star power 5/10, Knowledge 8/10, Popularity 7/10, Chemistry 9/10
Total: 29/40
Cris Collinsworth remains one of the NFL’s most recognizable voices next to Mike Tirico
2) Tom Brady
Network: FOX Partner: Kevin Burkhardt
All eyes were on Tom Brady, the biggest star in the NFL, when he stepped into the broadcast booth in a $375 million FOX deal after taking a year sabbatical after retiring from playing.
It is fair to say he got off to a shaky start, with plenty of critics during his first season in the role. But Brady took a massive leap in 2025, and continues to build up an excellent relationship with his lead announcer, Kevin Burkhardt.
It is hard to look past the knowledge of the seven-time Super Bowl champion, and he continues to be more and more willing to share his insights on the Xs and Os and weave them into his commentary, rather than relying on cliches as he often did in his first year.
He’s not popular with all viewers, yet the ultra-competitive Brady is fast winning people around with his performances in the booth and proving people wrong – just like he did in his NFL career. But, Brady being Brady, only being the very best counts.
Ratings: Star power 10/10, Knowledge 9/10, Popularity 7/10, Chemistry 8/10
Total: 34/40
Tom Brady has grown into his role at FOX after he signed a 10-year, $375M contract
1) Troy Aikman
Network: ESPN on ABC Partner: Joe Buck
Troy Aikman has made just as much of a name for himself in the broadcast booth as he did on the field – and that is no mean feat.
The three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys jumped straight into his new role after retiring in 2000 and has been there alongside Joe Buck ever since.
The longest tenured play-by-play duo continue to be at the top of their game as the A-list pairing for ESPN on ABC, covering each Monday Night Football. This year, they’ll be back on the Super Bowl call for the first time since 2020.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman remain the best in the business as the ESPN/ABC No.1 crew
Aikman and Buck’s chemistry has been honed over years of working together, and it doesn’t get much bigger in terms of star power than the quarterback of ‘America’s team.’
While the game has changed somewhat since his days playing quarterback, Aikman remains knowledgeable, engaging and concise when it comes to offering his analysis of what he sees on the field.
Ratings: Star power 9/10, Knowledge 8/10, Popularity 9/10, Chemistry 10/10
