This season, the one and only Gary Danielson is getting ready for his 36th campaign calling college football games. Unfortunately for everyone who has thoroughly enjoyed his commentary, it's going to be his last year on the job.
On Wednesday, the news came in that Danielson is planning to retire after the 2025 season. He's been a joy to listen to on CBS, but as we all know, nothing lasts forever. As you might have been able to guess, Danielson was quite emotional when talking about his upcoming retirement.
Legendary college football analyst Gary Danielson will retire after this season
“I have had the greatest seat in the house for 36 years and have loved every minute of it,” he said via a release. “I have discussed the timing of this moment with CBS Sports leadership over the past few years and we felt it was important I remained with the team during our transition to the Big Ten. As we enter our second full season of Big Ten football and my 20th at CBS Sports, the timing just feels right. I have so much respect for Charles Davis as both a person and an analyst. He is going to shine in this role and fit so well with this team. I have been blessed to work with incredible teammates throughout my career and I look forward to one more memorable season with Brad, Jenny, Craig Silver, Steve Milton and the crew.”
As Danielson mentioned via the quote above, Charles Davis is set to take his seat in the booth. The former Tennessee Vols standout will be taking over as the lead college football analyst in 2026. For now, Davis will remain covering the NFL for the network.
He'll have some tremendous shoes to fill, as Danielson indeed is a legend of the game. Georgia football fans know all about Danielson, as he's been on the call for plenty of UGA showdowns. With him turning 74 in September, the timing of this decision makes plenty of sense. Before we say our goodbyes, however, keep in mind there's still a full season of Danielson for everyone to enjoy.