J.J Watt, Justin Tucker, Jim Nantz
Credit: CBS, Denny Medley-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
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Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit have been widely panned for flippantly downplaying serious allegations against Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs and Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during Thursday Night Football games on Prime Video this season.
Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt showed them how it’s done while calling the Denver Broncos’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs on CBS on Sunday.
Just before halftime, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a 45-yard attempt, and Nantz took the opportunity to shine a light on the controversy engulfing Kansas City.
Jim Nantz: “Just last year, (Justin) Tucker had to serve a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Given the multitude of allegations of nonconsensual behavior, Tucker’s signing this week just drew a sharp rebuke in Kansas City & really all over…” https://t.co/7GCYGfguUy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 1, 2026
“Of course, one of the big stories this past week is that the Chiefs, because of the way Butker has struggled, going all the way back to the start of last season, they signed kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad,” Nantz said. “Just last year, Tucker had to serve a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.”
“Given the multitude of allegations of nonconsensual behavior, Tucker’s signing this week just drew a sharp rebuke in Kansas City and really all over the NFL landscape,” Nantz continued.
“And understandably, Andy Reid and the Chiefs organization, at his press conference this week, had to spend I would say almost half of it answering questions about it,” Watt added.
In early 2025, the Baltimore Banner reported 16 women alleging that Tucker engaged in sexual misconduct during and after massage sessions. The Baltimore Ravens released Tucker in May 2025. Tucker denied all allegations, and charges were never filed.
Back on the CBS broadcast, Nantz shared that Reid privately praised Butker but felt a need to “put him in a situation where he felt pressure” during their production meeting the night before the game.
To Watt’s point, Reid fielded multiple questions about Tucker last Wednesday, though the Chiefs head coach offered little more than callous, passive commentary. Reid’s press conference began with Mac Morey asking him what message the Chiefs sent to women by signing Tucker.
“Yeah, so, he’s done his suspension, you know,” Reid said. “Took care of that business there. I’ll leave it at that for you.”
Reid’s refusal to acknowledge the weight of the situation earned sharp criticism, headlined by this column by The Athletic’s Candace Buckner. The Chiefs’ clumsy handling of signing Tucker made Nantz and Watt’s simple yet sensitive acknowledgement stand out even more.
“Appreciated Nantz and Watt explaining why the Tucker signing in KC was controversial,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes wrote on X. “Took about 30 seconds and then kept it moving—it’s not rocket science.”
Butker missed a crucial 54-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, opening the door to the Broncos’ 28-24 comeback victory, so Tucker will continue to loom large.