Jim Nantz: When He Plans To Retire From Calling The Masters
CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz has revealed when he plans to retire from calling the Masters. Find out when that might happen.
www.sportscasting.comShort answer: As of mid-2026, Jim Nantz has publicly discussed stepping back from some duties and aiming to retire around 2036, but he remains the lead voice for CBS on Masters broadcasts for the near term. The Masters telecast in 2025–2026 has continued with Nantz in the primary play-by-play role, though reports note future retirement timing and potential transition plans.
Details and context
- Why he might not be on certain broadcasts: In recent years, Nantz has balanced a heavy workload across NFL, college basketball, and golf, and has repeatedly cited family and health as considerations in planning his schedule and potential retirement timeline. This has led to frequent media coverage about when he might reduce duties or retire, even as he extended his Masters tenure through the 100th edition in 2036 if health and CBS/ Augusta National desires align.[2][3][7][8]
- Current Masters status: For the 2024–2025 Masters cycles, Nantz continued as the lead caller for CBS, with Ian Eagle and others sharing play-by-play duties on certain segments or events, while Nantz remained the recognizable voice for Augusta and the Masters broadcast team.[5][2]
- Retirement timing discussions: Several outlets quote Nantz expressing a target retirement around the 100th Masters in 2036, with caveats about health and organizational desire to have him back in Augusta for that milestone. He has also indicated an intention to remain involved through the decade, potentially through the 2030 Masters, depending on circumstances.[7][8][2][5]
Illustrative notes
- If you’re trying to understand why you haven’t seen him on a Masters broadcast in a given year, it’s often linked to the broader scheduling and potential phased reductions rather than a sudden departure, given his ongoing contracts and commitments in golf and NFL coverage.[2][5]
- For the latest confirmed lineup of announcers for a specific Masters year, checking CBS Sports press releases or Augusta National broadcast notes for that year will provide the exact team, since roles can shift annually based on contracts and health considerations.[5][7]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent CBS press release or authoritative coverage for the exact Masters year you care about and summarize who is on the call and any announced retirement plans with precise citations.