THE NFL has a growing roster of talented broadcasters calling its games every year, but which one is the best?
There are too many broadcasters to rank all of them, and we could break down play-by-play, color commentary, sideline commentary, and more.
For the sake of simplicity, this ranking will be limited to the top five color commentators in the NFL.
These are the names that get the most attention in broadcast pairings, and are usually former players providing their insight from personal experience.
On this list we have some seasoned veterans as well as some newcomers to the game.
There is also a huge amount of money being made on the list, with the highest earner making almost $40 million per season.
Interested to know who tops our list? Find out below:
5. JJ WATT – CBS
JJ Watt started with CBS this season[/caption]
JJ Watt is a rookie broadcaster this year, but he is quickly rising to fan-favorite status in his CBS pairing with Ian Eagle.
Take this tweet for example, with one fan calling the CBS booth “like heaven compared to what we usually get on Fox.”
Watt was announced as an analyst for CBS before this season and hit his stride immediately.
He has provided knowledgeable, unbiased coverage of NFL games that is easy to digest for fans.
The only reason that Watt isn’t higher on this list is simply because he is a rookie.
Let’s not forget how things went with fellow CBS color commentator Tony Romo.
Romo was once considered the cream of the crop when he first started as a broadcaster before falling out of favor with fans.
Let’s give Watt some more time to settle into his role before putting him on too high of a pedestal.
4. TOM BRADY – FOX
Tom Brady is in the second year of his 10-year Fox deal[/caption]
Tom Brady is by far the highest-paid commentator in the NFL, but is Fox getting its money’s worth?
If this question was asked last season, many would say no. Brady came out stiff, awkward, and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the job.
However, Brady didn’t become the GOAT by accident, and it looks like he took some of the dedication to his craft and transferred it over to broadcasting.
Brady has taken significant strides to start this season, and has gone from fans calling for him to be taken off TV to wanting to hear more of what he has to say.
The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback still has some improvements to make before he is worth his $37.5 million per season salary, but he is certainly getting better.
3. CRIS COLLINSWORTH – NBC SPORTS
Cris Collinsworth has been broadcasting for nearly 40 years[/caption]
Cris Collinsworth is among the old guard of NFL broadcasters.
He started his broadcasting career in 1989 after retiring from the NFL, and joined the Sunday Night Football booth in 2009.
This season in Collinsworth’s 17th calling Sunday night games.
In recent years, Collinsworth has gotten some flack for his infatuation with Patrick Mahomes and the style of his commentary, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is one of the best in the business.
Collinsworth’s rapport with Mike Tirico is spectacular, and it makes for a great product to watch to cap off a long day of NFL football.
The former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver isn’t going anywhere any time soon either.
He signed a four-year extension with NBC Sports in 2024 that will keep him on Sunday Night Football through the 2029 NFL season.
Fans should be glad that Collinsworth is staying on their TVs, as he is one of the best in the business.
2. TROY AIKMAN – ESPN
Troy Aikman is nearing year 25 in the broadcast booth[/caption]
Troy Aikman feels like the gold standard for NFL color commentators.
Aikman has been in the broadcast booth for almost 24 years, starting in the 2001 season.
In 2002 he joined up with Joe Buck, and they have been a broadcast pairing ever since then.
Aikman originally broadcasted with Fox before making the jump to Monday Night Football on ESPN in 2022.
It isn’t wrong to say that Aikman is one of the best broadcasters in the NFL, and paired alongside Buck they are arguably the best booth in football.
Rarely does Aikman get any complaints from fans, as we’re all just appreciative to hear his insight once a week.
1. GREG OLSEN – FOX
Greg Olsen is looking to return to a No. 1 NFL booth[/caption]
Here comes the obvious answer. Greg Olsen is almost every NFL fan’s favorite broadcaster.
He came flying up the ranks at Fox and quickly made his way into the No. 1 booth.
However, Brady’s arrival to Fox sent Olsen down to the No. 2 team, a decision that many fans are still up in arms about.
It’s crazy that the best color commentator in football is on a No. 2 team, but there is simply no place else for Olsen to go.
Brady is on a 10-year contract with Fox, CBS has Romo in their top spot, NBC Sports has Collinsworth, ESPN has Aikman, and Kirk Herbstreit is the color commentator for Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football.
Olsen has been vocal about his desire to return to a No. 1 booth in the NFL, but he is going to have to be patient for one of those opportunities to open.
The good thing is, fans will be patiently waiting with him.
