Did Jim Nantz Play Professional Football? – Celebrity
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 18, 2026
For the sports broadcaster, see Jim Nantz. For other people with a similar name, see James Nance (disambiguation). James Solomon “Big Jim” Nance (December 30, 1942 – June 17, 1992) was an American professional football player who was a fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League (AFL).
Jim Nantz James William Nantz III (born May 17, 1959) is an American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men’s basketball, the NBA and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s.
Nantz’s sports savvy goes way beyond golf. He’s also CBS Sports’ lead play-by-play voice for pro football and college basketball, but from an early age, golf was the key. “The dream for me was always the Masters,” he says, “and after my freshman season on the Houston golf team I knew CBS was the only way I’d get there.”
James William Nantz III (born May 17, 1959) is an American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men’s basketball, and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s.
While working for KSL-TV, Nantz and Rodney Clark “Hot Rod” Hundley called BYU football games and the Utah Jazz basketball games. In 1985, after joining CBS Sports, Nantz initially started working as a studio host for CBS Sports’ coverage of college basketball and football games.
In 2014, Nantz and broadcast partner Phil Simms called Thursday Night Football games in a deal with CBS and the NFL Network. Tracy Wolfson was the sideline reporter for the Thursday games along with the Sunday games on CBS.
In 1985, after joining CBS Sports, Nantz initially started working as a studio host for CBS Sports’ coverage of college basketball and football games. He also worked for the PGA Tour golf as an on-course reporter and worked as a commentator for NFL games on Westwood One.
^ CBS Sports Team: Jim Nantz Archived March 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, CBS Sports. Accessed April 4, 2008. “He was born May 17, 1959, in Charlotte, N.C., and grew up in Colts Neck, N.J.” ^ Craig, Jack.
Who is Jim Nantz?
PGA Tour. James William “Jim” Nantz III (born May 17, 1959) is an American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men’s basketball, the NBA and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s.
Nantz was married to Ann-Lorraine “Lorrie” Carlsen Nantz for 26 years before divorcing in 2009. The couple lived in Westport, Connecticut, and had one child, daughter Caroline. In November 2009, Jim Nantz was ordered to pay his ex-wife $916,000 a year in child support and alimony.
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alexander Valley produced for Nantz’s The Calling label. In 2009, Nantz partnered with wine producer Peter Deutsch to launch a private wine label The Calling with its first vintage released in 2012. The wine’s name is in reference to Nantz’s calling of the Masters Tournament.
Nantz’s first book, Always By My Side – A Father’s Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, was released in May 2008. Nantz tells personal stories from football, basketball, and golf, and how he has met people along the way who remind him of the virtues his father instilled in him. The foreword to the book was written by one of his father figures, friend and frequent golf partner, former President George H.W. Bush. Nantz’s father, Jim Nantz Jr., died in 2008 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease; he was treated at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. In January 2011, Jim Nantz and The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, launched the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. The mission of the Center is to improve care and treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research and the investigation of its causes, including the role of concussions and other past neurological trauma.
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However, Nantz and Randy Cross would call the second round playoff game for CBS ( Dallas vs. Green Bay) not called by Pat Summerall and John Madden. Meanwhile, Tim Ryan and Matt Millen were the #3 team for much of the 1993 season. On February 4, 2007, Nantz called the play-by-play of Super Bowl XLI.
He teamed with Billy Packer to call the NCAA Final Four men’s basketball finals from 1991 until 2008. From 2008 to 2013, Clark Kellogg had been his analyst. From 2010 to 2013, Nantz and Kellogg were joined during the Final Four by Steve Kerr of Turner Sports. From 2013 to 2014, Greg Anthony partnered with Nantz.
During Super Bowl XLVII, Joe Flacco unknowingly hit Nantz with the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the presentation, but Nantz simply brushed it off. In 2014, Nantz and broadcast partner Phil Simms called Thursday Night Football games in a deal with CBS and the NFL Network.
Who is Jim Nantz?
James William Nantz III, known by the name Jim Nantz was born on May 17, 1959. The American sportscaster was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nantz has worked as a sportscaster on telecasts of several different sports and concerned leagues. He has presented for the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men’s basketball, …
This well explains his amazing athletic body with round-off height and weight. His height is 6 feet 3 inches and weighs about 165 lb, equal to 75 kg. His hair is dark brownish in color.
He has presented for the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men’s basketball, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s. Since 1989, Nantz has anchored the coverage of the Master’s Tournament by CBS Sports.
Nantz has been active in the broadcasting field for a long time and has appeared in some shows. According to some sources, he earns about $5 million a year from his appearances. He has spent his earnings in renovation and also a mini-golf course backyard.
His voice was used in the 1998 film Scrapple. Nantz has also been the guest commentator in the final round of The Open Championship for the BBC since 2009. In the 1999 golf game, Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge, which was launched for PC, Jim Nantz and Garry McCord teamed up to provide an extensive commentary.
Nantz then went to Texas, where he attended the University of Houston. He played on the Houston Cougars men’s golf team of the University of Houston. He was roommates with Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister, both of who went to become professional golfers. Jim at a golf tournament.
Jim Nantz smiling for a picture. In May 2008, he released his first book, “Always By My Side – A Father’s Grace and also “Sports Journey Unlike Any Other.”. In addition to this, Nantz also introduced his own private wine label, “The Calling,” its first vintage, released in 2012.
Who is Jim Nantz?
Jim Nantz (born May 17, 1959) is an American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the NFL (NFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s basketball and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1990s. He has been the NFL announcer on CBS’ top play-by-play team since 1998.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nantz grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana [1] and Colts Neck Township, New Jersey [2] and Marlboro Township, New Jersey, [3] where he attended Marlboro High School. [4] In high school, he was co-captain of the basketball team and co-captain and number one player on the golf team. He was a member of Bamm Hollow Country Club.
Nantz’s first book, Always By My Side – A Father’s Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, was released in May 2008. Nantz tells personal stories from football, basketball, and golf, and how he has met people along the way who remind him of the virtues his father instilled in him. The foreword to the book was written by one of his father figures, friend and frequent golf partner, former PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush. Nantz’s father, Jim Nantz Jr., died in 2008 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease; he was treated at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. In January 2011, Jim Nantz and The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas launched the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. The mission of the Center is to improve care and treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research and the investigation of its causes, including the role of concussions and other past neurological trauma.
In the past he has donated money to the campaigns of George W. Bush, Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, and Fred Thompson. Most recently he has contributed the maximum amount allowed by law to support Jeb Bush’s 2016 Presidential Campaign.
In 1993, Nantz had previously filled-in for his predecessor, Greg Gumbel as NFL Today host while Gumbel was away covering the American League Championship Series for CBS. Verne Lundquist and Dan Fouts were the #2 team for much of the 1993 season. However, Nantz and Randy Cross would call the second round playoff game for CBS (Dallas vs. Green Bay) not called by Pat Summerall and John Madden. Meanwhile, Tim Ryan and Matt Millen were the #3 team for much of the 1993 season.
