One of the most exclusive clubs in sports is that of announcers who become the face of a network, reaching a pantheon where they become fixtures in the biggest sporting events in America for years, if not decades. If you watched the national championship game between Florida and Houston on Monday, it was clear that Ian Eagle is now firmly entrenched in that elite group. This marks his second year as CBS and TNT’s lead announcer for the NCAA Tournament after Jim Nantz stepped down in 2023, and Eagle has truly taken the ball and run with it.
His flawless call of the national championship game, from the opening tip to the final buzzer, showcased why he’s been a fan favorite for years. With humor, camaraderie in the booth, and energetic, unique calls, Eagle met the moment time and again throughout the entire tournament. Notably, his memorable calls included:
“OOOH! MAJOR SLAM! HE JUST CAUGHT A BODY!” – Ian Eagle 🏀🔨🎙️🦅 pic.twitter.com/480OMPyGVP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 8, 2025
“FLORIDA IS BACK ON TOP OF THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL WORLD! CHAMPIONSHIP MADNESS! IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A GATOR! THEY WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE! Houston did not get a shot off. Florida 65, Houston 63. And it’s heartbreak once again for the Houston Cougars.” – Ian Eagle 🏀🎙️ pic.twitter.com/uPwZfR2kI1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 8, 2025
Eagle’s journey as a dependable understudy to Nantz at CBS has seen him calling regional NCAA games alongside Jim Spanarkel and playoff games in the NFL as the network’s second play-by-play voice. Next year, he will team up with J.J. Watt, who replaces Charles Davis. It is a testament to his announcer skills that his broadcasts are well-regarded regardless of the sport or partner; he earned third place in our 2018 NFL rankings with Dan Fouts and first in 2022 alongside Charles Davis. In the NCAA Tournament, he ranked first with Spanarkel and the lead crew featuring Grant Hill and Bill Raftery. It’s no wonder Awful Announcing readers recently named Eagle, Hill, and Raftery the best broadcast booth in sports.
Ian Eagle’s unmatched skill and versatility as an announcer across different sports sets him apart. There’s speculation that if he takes on a regular NBA role with Amazon, his partner there will likely also rise into the ranks of top broadcast teams covering the association.
While there have been popular announcers over the years who have resonated with fans, networks often don’t grant them opportunities to call championship-level games due to the fierce competition. For instance, Kevin Harlan only secured a lead assignment for NBA on TNT after Marv Albert’s retirement, and Gus Johnson’s popularity has waned somewhat as he branches into soccer and college football work at Fox Sports. Once you reach championship-level broadcasting, the job security mirrors that of a Supreme Court justice. The select few with the required quality and presence include modern names like Jim Nantz, Joe Buck, Al Michaels, and Mike Tirico, alongside legends from past generations such as Summerall, Gowdy, Costas, McKay, Scully, Enberg, Whitaker, and Musburger.
Certain broadcasters have become synonymous with their sports, like Doc Emrick in the NHL, Mike Breen in the NBA, and Keith Jackson in college football. Yet, very few individuals have called multiple championship events for a single network. Based on his performance in the NCAA Tournament and the NFL, it’s reasonable to project Ian Eagle as a potential successor to Jim Nantz as the face of CBS Sports, joining that distinguished fraternity. Nantz’s possible retirement from the Masters has been a topic of discussion, although he is quick to downplay it. Still, it’s plausible that Nantz may step back from the NFL to concentrate on the PGA Tour, allowing Eagle to call several Super Bowls for the network in the coming years. Although at 56, the prospect of Eagle calling the Masters in 2037 seems ambitious, much like how Joe Buck transitioned to golf for the U.S. Open. By then, it may very well be his son Noah Eagle taking center stage in sports broadcasting.
