Announcing one of the 16 (or fewer) NFL games each week is among the highest honors in sports broadcasting. Every individual who steps into the booth has demonstrated some level of craft mastery, whether that be broadcasting, football or, ideally, both.
But all are not equal. There are the historic pairings – such as Pat Summerall and John Madden, or the original ABC “Monday Night” booth of Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford and Don Meredith – and the iconic duos of today, a la Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
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Entering the 2026 campaign, there are 18 dedicated broadcast teams throughout the league’s six media partners that will air games this season. Below is a ranking of those booths (sideline reporters spared from this exercise), from No. 18 to the top.
18. Tom McCarthy/Robert Turbin (CBS)
Somebody has to be last on the list, and it’s more because of the unknown factor here. Turbin is primarily a college analyst for CBS and will be making his NFL broadcasting debut in Week 1 (Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars). McCarthy, the Philadelphia Phillies’ play-by-play announcer, is more closely associated with baseball. This is one of several new pairings for CBS as a result of Tony Romo’s arrest and leave.
17. Chris Myers/Mark Schlereth (FOX)
Unfortunately for the pairings at the end of this list, given their respective position on their employers’ depth charts, the caliber of games they call often leave much to be desired. Myers and Schlereth are often in that boat, although Schlereth has handled the transition from ESPN studio mainstay to game analyst well.
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16. Andrew Catalon/Logan Ryan (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers safety Logan Ryan (33) during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 7, 2024, at Levi’s Stadium.
Catalon, who also calls men’s college basketball and PGA golf, has versatility that keeps him in front of (and heard by) sports fans year-round. Ryan is a newcomer to the booth, and the former defensive back can add a unique perspective to a broadcast.
15. Kevin Kugler/Daryl Johnston
It wasn’t long ago “Moose” Johnston was part of FOX’s No. 2 team. Kugler calls a great game – with plenty of reps as Westwood One’s “Thursday Night Football” voice.
14. Kenny Albert/Jonathan Vilma
This booth has plenty of name recognition. But Albert is better-known for his hockey announcing at this point, and Vilma might be better remembered as a member of the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints defenses.
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13. Dave Pasch/Kurt Warner/Jason Kelce (ESPN)
Monday Night Countdown’s Jason Kelce talks during the pregame show prior to the game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
ESPN/NFL Network will have three booths this season, with this one the clearest sign of the marriage between the two companies. Kelce has almost zero booth experience, while Warner’s radio prowess gives him oodles of comfortability with a microphone. Pasch displayed his ability to be a point guard while working alongside Bill Walton on college basketball games over the years.
12. Bob Wischusen/Louis Riddick (ESPN)
Part of the ESPN “C” team, Riddick has watched his station decrease from the network’s No. 1 crew to third. That was largely out of Riddick’s control, however, and there is a reason why teams often have him on interview lists for front-office openings – the guy knows ball. Wischusen is a consummate pro who New York Jets fans know well.
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11. Adam Amin/Drew Brees (FOX)
Brees still has plenty to prove in the booth, but the new Hall of Famer seems to have found his fit upstairs rather than part of a studio crew. The strength here is Amin, who is one of the best play-by-play announcers in the business and has big-time exposure through this pairing and his MLB on FOX role.
10. Spero Dedes/Adam Archuleta (CBS)
Dedes has been one of the most underrated NFL game callers for more than a decade by now. His chemistry with Archuleta, who has been Dedes’ partner since 2017, is exemplary.
9. Noah Eagle/Luke Kuechly (Netflix)
Of all the pairings, this one has the chance to rise the most if we were to conduct a similar exercise at the end of the season. The two have not called a game yet together for public consumption – their debut from Australia for the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams Week 1 game is Sept. 10 – but reports indicate this will be a fun and smooth listen. Eagle is already one of the best in the entire business, and Kuechly will quickly join the ranks of must-watch analysts.
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8. Kevin Harlan/Trent Green (CBS)
The lone CBS crew that did not experience upheaval as a result of the Romo machinations, Harlan and Green are models of consistency. Harlan will go down as one of the voices of his generation, while Green does enough.
7. Al Michaels/Kirk Herbstreit (Amazon)
Michaels’ prime is in the rearview mirror and Herbstreit’s excellence at the college level does him no favors when it comes to his NFL assignments. “Herbie” is overexposed, although his professionalism and preparation carries the call. Rarely does Michaels reach back to meet the moment, but when he does, it’s magic.
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6. Jim Nantz/JJ Watt (CBS)
This is likely where Nantz and Romo would have slotted, too, which feels fair because this is a No. 1 booth that has never called a live game together. Watt’s first season in the booth, alongside Ian Eagle, could not have gone better. Maybe Watt is what Nantz needs after nearly a decade next to Romo; when Nantz is at his best, there may be few better in the history of broadcasting.
5. Ian Eagle/Ross Tucker (CBS)
Ian Eagle is the everyman broadcaster – never flashy but always appreciated. Tucker has been an elite NFL analyst for nearly two decades and has a solid finger on the pulse of the game – and what fans want – thanks to his eponymous podcast.
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4. Kevin Burkhardt/Tom Brady (FOX)
Fox Sports announcer Kevin Burkhardt (left) with Tom Brady on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome.
Brady being this high on the list a year ago would have seemed unfathomable. But it was a good 2025 for the seven-time Super Bowl champion, who improved greatly in his second season in the booth. Burkhardt remains elite and is the ultimate setup man for Brady.
3. Joe Davis/Greg Olsen (FOX)
Olsen may be the best color analyst in the sport, a level he rose to during his years on FOX’s No. 1 team before the arrival of Brady. There is a reason why Davis calls the World Series for the network. It also helps that they seem to always have assignments that end up as exciting games.
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2. Joe Buck/Tory Aikman (ESPN)
Understanding they aren’t for everyone and have their detractors, Buck and Aikman are the 21st-Century constants in NFL fans’ lives. From FOX to ESPN, they have remained in the spotlight and are finally back in the Super Bowl rotation this year.
1. Mike Tirico/Cris Collinsworth (NBC)
Collinsworth has been consistent and made the graduation from meme to stalwart without losing an ounce of authenticity. Tirico’s capacity to call the action clearly while incorporating the grander context almost simultaneously is a gift that has helped him become the ideal messenger – and takes this duo all the way to the top spot.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking all 18 NFL broadcast teams for 2026 season. Tom Brady moves up
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