Report: NBC targeting JJ Watt for coverage of Big Ten football

NBC is reportedly targeting JJ Watt for its coverage of Big Ten football during the inaugural broadcast season in 2023.

Awful Announcing first reported the news about Joshua Perry, a former Ohio State linebacker, getting hired as a studio analyst. Watt is the next target now that he’s retired from the NFL. Watt played his college football at Wisconsin, making him a logical fit for NBC

“Who will be joining Perry and Taylor is still in flux, but NBC is hoping to land Big Ten legend J.J. Watt,” Awful Announcing’s Ben Koo wrote. “The future Hall of Famer is an obvious fit having played at Wisconsin and would likely have a significant role on Sunday Night Football as well. However, Watt is being courted by multiple networks and thus might not ultimately land at NBC. Another name in the mix is Michael Robinson, who has been an analyst for NFL Network and additionally worked with NBC on USFL broadcasts.”

NBC’s Big Ten broadcasts are dubbed Big Ten Saturday Night, similar to the NFL’s Sunday Night Football. Perry previously worked at the Big Ten Network as a studio and game analyst.

The Texans drafted Watt with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after an impressive career at Wisconsin following a transfer from Central Michigan. He was a first team All-American and first team All-Big Ten selection that year as the Badgers shared the Big Ten title and clinched a Rose Bowl appearance.

Watt also wrapped up his 12th NFL season, starting out with the Houston Texans from 2011-20 before arriving in Arizona ahead of the 2021 season. A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, he appeared in five Pro Bowls, earned five All-Pro selections and won the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year award, among his many accolades.

Earlier in 2022, Watt had a cardiac event that required medical attention before returning to the field right away. He went into atrial fibrillation and had his heart shocked back into rhythm two days before playing a game.

If Watt ends up at NBC, he’ll be right back into football, but in a different role of course.

NBC announced its game broadcast crew back in February for the Big Ten broadcasts. Live on Big Ten Saturday Night, the team of Todd Blackledge, Noah Eagle and Kathryn Tappen will bring the action into your living room, per a press release from NBC Sports.

“NBC Sports today announced its Big Ten Saturday Night college football announce team, featuring Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Noah Eagle (play-by-play) in the booth and Kathryn Tappen as sideline reporter,” the release read. “Every weekend from Sept. 2 through Nov. 25, the trio will call a Big Ten Football game, which will be broadcast on NBC and simulstreamed on Peacock. 

“Big Ten Saturday Night highlights an NBC Sports-record 33 college football games in Fall 2023.”

It’ll be even more fascinating if NBC and Watt are live from Madison (Wis.). That’ll be quite the homecoming.