Boomer Esiason is an American former professional football player who played as a quarterback in the NFL, primarily for Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals. Currently, Boomer works as a sports analyst and commentator for CBS Sports.
The quarterback was named to four Pro Bowls and received one first-team All-pro selection in his 14 seasons with the NFL. He spent nine years with Cincinnati, three seasons with New York Jets, and one season with Arizona before returning to the Bengals in 1997.
Soon after his retirement, Esiason worked as a football analyst for CBS Sports on The NFL Today. Previously, he was with ABC, HBO, and Westwood One. Furthermore, he also hosts the morning sports radio program Boomer and Gio on WEAN in New York.
The former NFL star criticized Mac jones, an American quarterback for the New England Patriots, on January 2, 2023, for his body language and facial language. Boomer said that there is a douchiness about Jones’s reactions on the field.
Please stick to the article till the end to know more about his early life, education, career, and net worth.
But before that, let’s go through some of his quick facts.
Quick Facts
Page Contents
| Full Name | Norman Julius Esiason |
| Birth Date | April 17, 1961 |
| Birth Place | East Islip, New York |
| Nick Name | Boomer |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | University of Maryland, Timber Point Elementry, and East Islip High School |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Father’s Name | Norman Esiason |
| Mother’s Name | Irene Esiason |
| Siblings | Susan Esiason (Sister) Robin Esiason (Sister) |
| Age | 62 Years Old |
| Height | 6’5″/1.96 m/196 cm |
| Weight | 102 kg/224 lb |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Figure | Athletic |
| Married | Yes |
| Wife | Cheryl Hyde Esiason ( Married on May 24, 1986 ) |
| Children | Gunnar Esiason ( Son ) Sydney Esiason ( Daughter ) |
| Profession | NFL Player ( Retired ), Television Personality, Commentator |
| Net Worth | $20 Million |
| Currently Works At | CBS Sports, WFAN |
| Affiliations | NFL, CBS |
| Active Since | 1984 |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Trading Card, Football Card, Signed Jersey |
| Last Update | March 2024 |
Early Life, Family & Education
Born on April 17, 1961, and raised in East Islip, New York, the former quarterback’s full name is Norman Julius “Boomer” Esiason. His mother, Irene, gave him the name “Boomer” before his birth.
Unfortunately, Esiason’s mother died due to ovarian cancer when Boomer was seven. Since then, his father, Norman, raised him.
Esiason went to Timber Point Elementary and East Islip High School. Later, he attended the University of Maryland and was a three-sport varsity player in football, basketball, and baseball.
Age, Height, & Weight
As of 2024, Esiason is 62 years old.
Boomer was born with the sun sign Aries, which means the person is a passionate, motivated, and confident leader.
Furthermore, the retired NFL player stands at 6’5″/1.96 m and weighs 102 kg/224 lb.
Wife & Children
Boomer got married to the love of his life, Cheryl Hyde, on May 24, 1986. Reports claim that the pair met each other only a couple of months before marriage.
They are blessed with two children, a son Gunnar Esiason and a daughter Sydney Esiason. Moreover, Sydney is married to New York Islanders forward Matt Martin.
Gunner was a quarterback for his high school football team at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York. He is also a blogger and has appeared in a daily podcast discussing the issues confronting cystic fibrosis patients. Gunnar battled cystic fibrosis in 1993.
The duo lives in their Bridgehampton house, which they purchased way back in 2004 for $1.6 million.
Career
College football career
Boomer was extremely famous and recognized as a three-sport player in his college. The University of Maryland offered him a scholarship, and there he set 17 school records.
He completed 461 of 850 passes for 6,169 yards and 42 touchdowns with 27 interceptions.
The quarterback received two-time honorable mention All-American in 1982 and 1983. He threw two third-quarter touchdown passes, won over No. 3 North Carolina, and sealed the ACC title.
When Did Boomer Start Playing Professionally?
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Esiason in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft. The quarterback made his debut for Cincinnati on October 7, 1984, in a game against Houston Oilers.
He led the Bengals to a 13-3 win over Houston and scored the only touchdown on a three-yard run.
The former NFL player set a team record by throwing five interceptions in a 27-21 against the New England Patriots on October 16, 1998. He finished the season 12-4 with the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, securing the fifth AFC Central division title.
Moreover, he led the team to Super Bowl XXlll, defeating Seattle and Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
On October 7, 1990, Boomer threw for 490 yards in a 34-31 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He left the Cincinnati Bengals in 1992 after playing for 8 years.
New York Jets
Esiason left the Cincinnati Bengals to join the New York Jets in 1993.
During the 1995 season with the Jets, he got seriously injured in a game against the Buffalo Bills. In the game, rookie Everett Mclver was whistled for a false start, and his opponent caught Esiason under his face mask.
On the other hand, Smith never accepted that he heard the whistle as he was upset about the injury. That collision kept him out until November 19. Esiason left the Jets in 1995.
Arizona Cardinals
Boomer joined Arizona Cardinals as a free agent in 1996. On November 10, 1996, he set history by throwing the fourth-best passing yardage day in NFL with 522 yards in a 37-34 victory against Washington Redskins.
Two weeks later, he led a fourth-quarterback comeback against the playoff-bound Eagles.
Rejoining Cincinnati Bengals
Boomer rejoined the Bengals, replacing Jeff Blake midway through the 1997 season.
He threw 13 touchdowns with only two interceptions and garnered a passer rating of over 106 for the season.
On December 21, 1997, Esiason played his last NFL game. His last game was a 79-yard touchdown play-action pass to wide receiver Darnay Scott.
Boomer Esiason Talks Over GameStop
At the end of January 2021, Boomer Esiason started a clear-cut statement to stop going to games.
He commented that he would no longer participate in it until they explained the meanings and had no shady business in between.
Esiason said, “Steve Cohen also sent [a tweet] out (Thursday) that I didn’t like, in regards to David Portnoy, saying ‘I’m just trying to make a living, just like you. Hey, I don’t want to hear that from you, do you know what I mean? You hedge fund billionaire. Just keep your mouth shut.”
Awards & Achievements
Having been recognized as the twenty-fifth-best quarterback, Boomer won several awards and reached a great height in American football history. Some of his awards are listed below:
- NFL Most Valuable Player Award
- Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
- Famous for several NFL career records
- Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Four of the Pro Bowl games
Broadcasting, Television, Film, & Literature
The retired quarterback started his broadcasting career when he was a player. He first appeared as a color analyst with his partner Brad Nessler for the World League of American Football (WLAF).
Boomer went into full-time broadcasting as soon as he retired. He worked as a color commentator from 1998 to 1999 on ABC Monday Night Football.
Later, Boomer was hired by the Westwood One radio network as a lead analyst of Monday Night Football and Super Bowl games.
While leaving Westwood One, he said, “I’m going to miss it, but in all reality, I kind of have to get part of my life back.”
Presently, Boomer serves as an in-studio analyst for NFL Today on CBS television. He also appeared in over 25 commercials for Diet Coke, Reebok, Samsung, Hanes, etc.
He also acted in many TV shows and movies, such as Miss America 1999, Spin City, The Game Plan, and Blue Bloods, among many others.
Furthermore, he launched Game Time With Boomer Esiason interviewing former sports personalities on September 14, 2019.
The Boomer Esiason Foundation: Why Was The Boomer Esiason Foundation Established?
Esiason’s son Gunnar suffered cystic fibrosis in 1993. The family had a tough time then, which motivated Boomer Esiason to fund research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
It is a disease of the respiratory and digestive systems. The Boomer Esiason Foundation was formed soon after Gunnar’s diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.
The foundation has done a tremendous job raising an excess of $85 million. The foundation has supported several hospitals, including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian in NYC.
Furthermore, the foundation has given over $2 million to CF patients. The foundation donates and provides scholarships, transplant grants, hospital grants, awareness, and education about cystic fibrosis.
Net Worth & Salary
Boomer Esiason is one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. The quarterback has a lucrative net worth of $20 million as of 2024.
He currently hosts the morning sports radio program Boomer and Gio on WFAN in New York.
Apart from it, Boomer is also a part of the Investors Bank. As the expert in that field, he often shares his knowledge on the known site alongside Phil Simms.
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