The Boomer Esiason Caleb Williams rant is a sad and desperate attempt for either a washed-up never-was quarterback to grab seven seconds of relevance in the modern sports landscape, or just another old man shouting, “Get off my lawn!”
On his barely listened to podcast, Boomer & Gio, the geriatric host went off on the Bears starting quarterback, not for something he did today or yesterday, but about things that didn’t happen but could have happened several years ago, during the 2024 NFL Draft. Nothing is as outrageous as two-year-old news to the elderly. In fairness to Esiason, the recency has to do with an upcoming Seth Wickersham book, titled American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.
In the book, Wickersham describes how Williams and his father discussed making waves on draft day by refusing to play for the Bears, which was a team the senior Williams described as a place that ruins quarterbacks. Around the time of the 2024 Draft, this story was circulating, so the book is just rehashing what was known two years ago. That didn’t stop Esiason from foaming at the mouth when he was reminded of the past events.
“It’s no wonder why he failed initially, and it’s no wonder why the coach was fired. Now they (Bears) go out and get an offensive coach in Ben Johnson, and now it’s on his ass. It’s going to be on his ass to live up to these so-called lofty expectations that he has for himself and that his father has for his son.”
Boomer Esiason Caleb Williams Take Is Muddied By History
This stance is consistent with the stance Esiason has had in the past, specifically about Eli Manning. When the younger brother of Peyton refused to play for the Chargers after being taken with the first overall pick, he was traded to the New York Giants. Esiason criticized at the time, then too, saying that Manning should have gone to the Chargers and turned their franchise around if he was so good.
What’s really interesting is Esiason’s comments before the 1984 NFL Draft. This was right after the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis, and according to Peter King, Esiason said at the time, “I don’t care if they draft me, I’m never going to step foot on the field for the Indianapolis Colts.” Today, Esiason calls Williams, Manning, and other young players (much younger than him) entitled for their attitude. Is it generational, or do his past comments prove there’s always been a sense of entitlement in young players, even by him?
The question also has to be asked: What makes Esiason an authority on the NFL? He played 14 years in the league as a quarterback and had a winning record in just four of them. His career record is 80-93, his career completion percentage is 57%, and he has a career passer rating of 81.1. His career was basically garbage, just like his lame takes on the league today. He was Ryan Leaf of the 1980’s.
Esisason fails to mention that in the upcoming book, after the discussion with his dad, Williams said, “I can do it for this team. I’m going to go to the Bears.” Esiason isn’t mad that Williams boycotted the Bears, because that never happened. He’s mad because a father and son had a discussion about what’s best for the son’s future. How dare they!
Boomer ended his pathetic rant by telling Williams to “.. shut his pie hole.” Considering Williams isn’t actually saying anything, and this is a two-year-old recap, and considering Esiason’s words in the past, and his underachieving career, it’s abundantly clear that at least one pie hole involved shouldn’t be open.
