Boomer Esiason Biography

Norman Julius Boomer Esiason was born on April 17, 1961, and played as a professional quarterback in the National Football League. Esiason was selected in the 1984 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and spent 10 seasons with the team after playing college football at Maryland. He earned NFL Most Valuable Player honors in 1988 after leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl XXIII appearance. After nine years with Cincinnati, Esiason played three seasons with the New York Jets and one with the Arizona Cardinals before returning to Cincinnati for his final season in 1997. He played college football under head coaches Jerry Claiborne and Bobby Ross and offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen at the University of Maryland. On December 21, 1986, Esiason threw five touchdown passes in a 52–21 victory over the New York Jets. In 1988, he set a team record with five interceptions in a 27–21 loss to the New England Patriots on October 16.