Boomer Esiason

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{{NFL player 

  |Image=Boomer.jpg
  |DateOfBirth=April 17, 1961
  |Birthplace=West Islip, New York
  |Position=QB
  |College=Maryland
  |DraftedYear=1984
  |DraftedRound=2
  |Awards=1995 Walter Payton Award,
1988 AP NFL MVP,
1988 UPU AFC Offensive POY,
1988 PFWA NFL MVP
  |Honors=
  |Records=
  |Retired #s=
  |DatabaseFootball=ESIASBOO01
  |years=1984-1992
1993-1995
1996
1997
  |teams=Cincinnati Bengals
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
  |ProBowls=4}}

Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason (born April 17, 1961 in West Islip, New York) is a former quarterback with the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals (1984-1992, 1997), the New York Jets (1993-1995) and the Arizona Cardinals (1996).

Contents

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NFL career

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Cincinnati Bengals

He attended the University of Maryland and was drafted in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft (the 38th player chosen overall) by the Bengals, surprisingly low. In fact, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper was, in Esiason's words, "going ballistic" that he was still available in the latter stages of the first round. Two of his teammates on the Terrapins squad, guard Ron Solt and defensive end Pete Koch, were drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts and the Bengals, respectively.

However, it should be noted that no quarterbacks were drafted in the first round, and, in fact, Esiason was actually the first one selected. He was also drafted by the Washington Federals franchise of the now-defunct United States Football League.

Arguably the most prolific left-handed quarterback in NFL history (Pro Football Hall of Fame member Steve Young — the first left-handed quarterback to be inducted — actually ranks below him in many statistical categories), Boomer Esiason took over for Ken Anderson as the Bengals' starting quarterback in 1985. At 6'-5" and 240 pounds, far larger than his predecessor and with a much more powerful arm, Esiason was the signal caller on one of the most potent offenses of the 1980's, and he was surprisingly mobile, rushing for 1,598 yards on 447 attempts and scoring 7 touchdowns in his career. He was particularly adept at running the difficult play-action pass offense. Four years later, Esiason led the Cincinnati Bengals to their second, and to date, their last appearance in the Super Bowl, where they again lost another close game to the San Francisco 49ers. In Super Bowl XXIII, the 49ers, led by Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, marched 92 yards on their last drive and won the game on a touchdown pass to receiver John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining in the game. A last-ditch pass to wide receiver Cris Collinsworth was broken up. The final score: 49ers 20, Bengals 16.

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New York Jets

In 1993, Boomer Esiason was traded to the New York Jets, playing three seasons with them and climbed to fourth on the club's all-time career passing yardage list.

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Arizona Cardinals & Back to Cincinnati

He then signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent in 1996 and was contemplating retirement, but was talked into playing one more season — with the Cincinnati Bengals. The final play of his 14-year professional career was a 77-yard touchdown pass to receiver Darnay Scott.

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Records & Honors

Boomer Esiason was named to four Pro Bowl games (1986, 1988, 1989, 1993) and holds several NFL career records for left-handed quarterbacks, including most touchdown passes (247), passing yards (37,920), and completions (2,969).

Among the awards Boomer Esiason has earned during his career include the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award in 1988 (leading the league with a quarterback rating of 97.4, and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 1995 for his charitable work.

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After retirement

After his retirement, Boomer Esiason went into broadcasting. He was a color commentator for ABC's Monday Night Football from 1998 to 2000. Following his dismissal by ABC (due primarily to personal conflicts between him and play-by-play announcer Al Michaels), Esiason was hired by the Westwood One radio network to become the analyst for radio broadcasts of Monday Night Football games. Esiason also currently serves as an in-studio analyst for The NFL Today on the CBS television network and hosts The Boomer Esiason Show on the Madison Square Garden Network.

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Origin of the "Boomer" Name

Boomer Esiason got the "Boomer" nickname even before he was born.

When Boomer's mother was pregnant with him, a friend and old teammate of his dad's college football team visited the Esiason home. The friend was the team's punter.

The pre-born Boomer kicked, and the friend, who saw the way Mrs. Esiason reacted and said, "wow, that's quite a little boomer you got there!"Template:Citationneeded

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The Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis

While at a 1993 Jets mini-camp, Esiason was notified that his two-year-old son, Gunnar Esiason, had to be taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (a disease of the respiratory and digestive systems). A devastated Boomer Esiason formed a charity to help fund Cystic Fibrosis research and raise awareness. He later formed a partnership with John Sawyer, a co-founder of the Cincinnati Bengals franchise and the chairman of Sawyer Industries, to form a company that would sell what came to be called Boomer's Products To Fight Cystic Fibrosis. The top-selling item is Boomer's BBQ Sauce, an award-winning Texas-style sauce. Proceeds from sales go to Cystic Fibrosis research.

Now 14, Gunnar is an extremely active teenager who undergoes daily treatments and takes medication. And he's a quarterback on his school's football team.

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External links

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