Boomer Esiason Biography and Wiki
Norman Julius “Boomer” Esiason is an American former NFL quarterback, longtime sports broadcaster, and radio host best known for his career with the Cincinnati Bengals and his work on WFAN’s Boomer and Gio. He won the NFL MVP award in 1988, led the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, made four Pro Bowls, and later built a second career in sports media. Esiason also founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation after his son Gunnar was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, making him a prominent advocate for cystic fibrosis awareness and research.
Boomer Esiason Age and Birthday
Norman Julius Esiason is 65 years old. He was born on April 17, 1961, in West Islip, New York. His zodiac sign is Aries.
His famous nickname, “Boomer,” was given to him before he was born because of how much he kicked in the womb. Boomer’s father, Norman Esiason Sr., later explained that he jokingly called his unborn son a “boomer” because the baby was kicking so much, and the nickname stuck.
Boomer Esiason Height and Weight
Boomer Esiason is 6 feet 5 inches tall (1.96 meters) and weighed 224 pounds (102 kg) during his NFL career.
Education
Esiason attended East Islip High School in New York before enrolling at the University of Maryland. He played quarterback for the Terrapins from 1981 through 1983 and earned All-American recognition twice. In 1983, he helped Maryland win the ACC championship and set several school passing records. WFAN’s Boomer Esiason graduated with a degree in communications and was later inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame.
Boomer Esiason Parents and Family
Boomer Esiason is the son of Norman Henning Esiason and Irene Esiason. His mother died from ovarian cancer when he was a young child, leaving his father to raise Boomer and his two sisters. His father was a World War II veteran who worked to support the family after his wife’s death. Esiason has often spoken about the influence his father and his Long Island upbringing had on his life and career.
Boomer Esiason’s Wife
Boomer Esiason is happily married to Cheryl Esiason. The sports commentator has been married to Cheryl Esiason since May 24, 1986. The couple has remained together throughout Esiason’s transition from professional football to broadcasting and radio.
Cheryl is a co-founder of the Boomer Esiason Foundation and has served as its Co-Chairman since the organization was established in 1993. She has played an important role alongside her husband in the foundation’s efforts to raise awareness and support for people living with cystic fibrosis.
Boomer Esiason Children
Boomer and Cheryl Esiason have two children, Gunnar and Sydney. Their son Gunnar was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a young child, an experience that became a major part of the family’s life and inspired Boomer and Cheryl to establish the Boomer Esiason Foundation in 1993. Gunnar later became a prominent cystic fibrosis advocate and now has children of his own. Their daughter Sydney is married to former NHL player Matt Martin.
Career
Norman Julius Esiason began his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals after being selected 38th overall in the 1984 NFL Draft. He became the Bengals’ starting quarterback and enjoyed the finest season of his career in 1988, when he was named NFL MVP and first-team All-Pro. That year, he led the league with a 97.4 passer rating and guided Cincinnati to the AFC championship and Super Bowl XXIII.
Esiason played for the Bengals from 1984 to 1992, spent three seasons with the New York Jets, played for the Arizona Cardinals in 1996, and returned to Cincinnati for his final NFL season in 1997. He finished his career with 37,920 passing yards, 247 touchdown passes and four Pro Bowl selections. The Bengals later inducted him into their Ring of Honor in 2023.
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After retiring from football, Esiason quickly moved into broadcasting. He worked with ABC Sports and Westwood One before joining CBS Sports, where he became a longtime analyst on The NFL Today. His CBS run lasted 22 years, making him one of the network’s most familiar NFL studio personalities. In April 2024, he announced that he was stepping away from The NFL Today while extending his commitment to WFAN.
Esiason remains active in sports media through WFAN’s weekday morning program Boomer and Gio, which he co-hosts with Gregg Giannotti. His continued WFAN role has kept him a regular voice in New York sports coverage, including commentary on major NFL stories.
Boomer Esiason Salary
Boomer Esiason’s current annual earnings can reasonably be estimated at around $3 million to $5 million, with his long-running WFAN radio role forming the core of his broadcasting income alongside other media, appearances and endorsement work. His earnings over his NFL career were also substantial, with Spotrac tracking more than $25 million in NFL cash earnings during his playing years.
Boomer Esiason Net Worth
WFAN’s Boomer Esiason has an estimated net worth of about $20 million, built through his NFL career, decades in sports broadcasting, radio work, endorsements and other business activities.
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