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Jim Nantz suffers strange on-air injury during NFL broadcast

Veteran play-by-play man was demonstrating 'Peanut Punch' alongside JJ Watt when it all went wrong: 'My wrist is broken'

Published Oct 20, 2026  •  2 minute read

Announcer Jim Nantz calling his final NCAA basketball game during the first half between the San Diego State Aztecs and Connecticut Huskies during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas. Photo by Carmen Mandato /GETTY IMAGES

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NFL players who morph into analysts post-career are generally considered tough.  

So, what does that make a nearly 70-year-old play-by-play guy who fancied golf over gridiron? 

During CBS’ broadcast of Sunday’s Las Vegas Raiders-Buffalo Bills game, Jim Nantz hurt himself while punching a football.

The injury happened late in the second quarter when analyst JJ Watt was explaining techniques that ball carriers use when trying to prevent a defender from punching the ball out for a forced fumble.

Watt says ball carriers will lock a wrist when carrying the rock to shelter it from a technique called the ‘Peanut Punch.’ 

To prove the technique works, Watts invited Nantz to stand up and punch the ball out of his hands.  

Nantz stood up and slammed his right fist into the ball. Watt didn’t flinch.  

“I did not think you were going to go that hard,” Watt said with a laugh. 

Nantz then slumped back into his seat, cradling his wrist.  

“My wrist is broken,” the 67-year-old said.  

Returning from a commercial break to start the second half, Nantz held an icepack on his right hand.  

As the ball was kicked into the air to officially being the third quarter, Nantz deadpanned 

“Physical at times in that first half. Gonna be a few folks having to play hurt the last couple of quarters,” he said.

The strategy was made famous by Charles “Peanut” Tillman. He played a dozen seasons with the Chicago Bears and one with the Carolina Panthers, before retiring in 2015. He is the all-time leader in forced fumbles from the defensive back position. 

“I’m just going to separate the man from the ball the best way I know how and that’s not with my shoulder pads, that’s with my fist,” Tillman told the Chicago Sun Times in 2016. “I did it a couple of times in college, it carried over into the league and 44 forced fumbles later, it was a patented move.” 

Nance and Watt are scheduled to call Sunday’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. 

Maybe this time Nance will leave the heavy lifting to the former 12-year-veteran, three-time defensive player of the year and five-time Pro Ball nominee.  

ganderson@postmedia.com

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