Ernie Johnson is stepping back from the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and says the move came at his request.
CBS and TNT Sports announced earlier this month that Johnson would not host studio coverage during the first two weeks of March Madness. As of now, Nate Burleson will take over those duties, marking his first time leading NCAA Tournament coverage. Johnson will return to host coverage of the Final Four in Indianapolis.
“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson told NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”
Johnson assumed the lead host role last year following the death of Greg Gumbel in December 2024. Now in the later stages of his career, Johnson is balancing an expanded workload that includes increased appearances on TNT’s NBA studio coverage and ESPN platforms.
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His schedule could make him the first broadcaster since Brent Musburger in 1984 to host both the NCAA men’s Final Four and the NBA Finals in the same year.
While viewers will miss Johnson during the tournament’s opening rounds, the shift provides a significant opportunity for Burleson, who has expanded his role at CBS Sports and said basketball was his first love. For what it’s worth, Johnson will still be front and center when a national champion is crowned in Indianapolis.
