Bills Central

Bills give commemorative game ball to favorite Jim Nantz ahead of calling his 500th NFL game

A huge career milestone awaits the CBS commentator Sunday during the Bills' wild-card round matchup against the Broncos.
Nico Salimbene|
Apr 1, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz acknowledges the crowd in the semifinals of the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament between the Florida Atlantic Owls and San Diego State Aztecs at NRG Stadium.
Apr 1, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz acknowledges the crowd in the semifinals of the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament between the Florida Atlantic Owls and San Diego State Aztecs at NRG Stadium. | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

In this story:

Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & StandingsDenver Broncos

"It's been a thrill." 

Sunday's AFC wild-card round matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos will mark NFL game number 500 for legendary CBS announcer Jim Nantz.

Nantz, who's broadcasting career has spanned across multiple different sports over 40 years, called his first NFL game on October 16th, 1988 -- a 35-31 victory for the Indianapolis Colts over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fast forward to January 12th, 2025, and Nantz's prestigious career will reach a number that very few broadcasters ever will.

Over that 500 game span, the CBS legend has called 431 regular season games and 69 postseason games (with this Sunday's), including seven Super Bowls.

Nantz, Romo, and Tracy Wolfso
Feb 6, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz (left), analyst Tony Romo (center) and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson at press conference at the Super Bowl 58 Media Center at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

On Friday afternoon the Buffalo Bills posted on X about Nantz's career achievement, and shared some images of him pictured with QB Josh Allen, GM Brandon Beane, and Bills' COO Pete Guelli. In the images, Nantz is seen receiving a commemorative game ball that displays the milestone.

“Does this feel a lot different than Game 1?” Nantz asked himself in an interview with Awful Announcing. “Well, 500 is a playoff game. Game 500 is here in Buffalo, and we’re about to embark on what promises to be an exciting stretch over the next three weeks. Man, I’m just grateful. I’ve had so many experiences, firsts, and incredible moments in that window.”

Nantz has been announcing alongside color commentator and former NFL quarterback Tony Romo for 8 seasons, and has partnered with sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson for 11 seasons. The trio covered one of the Bills' most heartbreaking losses in recent memory, the 2021 AFC divisional playoff game versus the Kansas City Chiefs, better known as the 13 seconds game. Prior to sharing the booth with Romo, Nantz spent 13 years calling games with two-time Super Bowl champion Phill Simms.

Nantz also has an affinity for Billsmafia from the time the Bills organization supported him ,and when fans donated to his mother's charity, which helped Nantz mentally recover from his mother's death.

Nantz has made some epic calls announcing Bills games.

Nantz's 500th game kicks off at Highmark Stadium this Sunday at 1pm on CBS.

Nantz presenting Lamar Hunt trophy in 202
Jan 30, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; CBS personality Jim Nantz presents the Lamar Hunt trophy the AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-24. | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  —

More Buffalo Bills News:

Published
Nico Salimbene
NICO SALIMBENE

Home/News