Ranking the top 50 quarterbacks in NFL history…
38. Boomer Esiason
Drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1984 out of the University of Maryland, Esiason brought a fiery New York attitude to the Midwest, quickly becoming the team’s starting quarterback and injecting swagger into the franchise.
Over 10 seasons with the Bengals (1984-1992, 1997), he peaked in 1988, leading the NFL in passer rating (97.4) while throwing for 3,572 yards and 28 touchdowns, earning NFL MVP, First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. That year, he guided Cincinnati to a 12-4 record and Super Bowl XXIII, where they fell 20-16 to the San Francisco 49ers.
Traded to the New York Jets in 1993, Esiason revived his career with a 3,421-yard, 16-touchdown season, earning another Pro Bowl. He later played for the Arizona Cardinals in 1996, throwing for 2,275 yards in a partial season before returning to Cincinnati for his finale.
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Esiason’s career totals stand at 37,920 passing yards, 247 touchdowns and 184 interceptions across 187 games, with four Pro Bowl selections (1986, 1988, 1989, 1993). He was named NFL Man of the Year in 1995 for his off-field work, particularly founding the Boomer Esiason Foundation to fight cystic fibrosis after his son’s diagnosis.
Esiason’s playing style was that of a rhythmic pocket passer: quick-release, masterful at play-action fakes, and adept at reading defenses to exploit mismatches.
Retired after 1997, Esiason transitioned to broadcasting, serving as an analyst for CBS Sports and hosting radio shows. He remains a Bengals legend and advocate for health causes.
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