Boomer Esiason: would he be a HOFer with a ring?

Question

I've been reading questions like if Aikman, Namath or even Bradshaw would be in the Hall of Fame without the rings.

But what about the opposite situation? Boomer had one of the strongest arms, a master of the play action, kept the Bengals winning after Ken Anderson retired and barely lost a Super Bowl against the Comeback Kid Joe Montana. Legendary QBs Marino and Elway were not even that closed when they faced Montana in the Super Bowl.

As a member of the 80's All Decade Team (something that Hall of Famers like Marino, Aikman, Jim Kelly, Warren Moon, Steve Young didn't accomplish), an MVP trophy, 4 Pro Bowls and finishing in the top 5 in most passing categories at the time he retired...do you think Boomer would have made it to HOF with a championship ring?

I mentioned QBs like Young and Kelly not in the All Decade team because they did not make in the 90s (I know some of them did not play in the 80s), which is the equivalent, the were not considered among the 3 best in an entire decade.

Boomer was the only one who gave a hard time to the Niners in their 5 Super Bowl victories.

Answer 1

I think he'd be considered for it with a championship ring. He's the best QB to play for the Bengals (for now) and I think a ring might take him over the hump.

That being said, I don't think the players you compared him to were a good choice at all. He's a member of the 80's all-decade team. Aikman, Kelly, Moon, and Young all had their best years in the 90's. Of course they wouldn't be all-decade players for the 80's.

Also, your Super Bowl argument is pretty weak. Boomer went 11 for 25, no touchdowns, and one INT. The only Bengal touchdown came on a return.

The reason people don't remember Boomer as the great QB that he was is due to the fact that the great QBs of the 90's (Aikman, Young, Elway, Favre, etc) were all overshadowing him and his accomplishments of the 80's. Maybe he'd make it in with a ring. We'll never know.

Answer 2

Oh he's definitely gonna make it to the HOF for sure with the Super Bowl ring. And without i still think he's gonna make it, just a matter of time. He's one of the great passer of the 80's and early 90's, he went to alot of Super Bowl, but he didn't win any of those chances, he's one of the great one that never win it, but that didn't mean he wasn't great. Look at Fran Tarkington he lost 4 Super Bowl, and still make the HOF, because he's such a great player he don't need the Super Bowl ring to validate how good he was, and the same thing could be say about Boomer Esiason. He got my vote but im not the HOF voters.

Answer 3

I hope you don't mean that Young wasn't on the 80s All Decade team, I hope you only mean the All Decade team(otherwise Young WASN'T PLAYING YET). With a Ring, if the numbers you bring up are true, then yeah he would likely be in the HoF. Maybe if he had the right people to lobby for him then he would be in the Hall, after all a Coke addict got in that way.

Answer 4

Yes Esiason should be in the HOF. I think his stats are compatible with others who are in. Also, remember Marino doesn't have a ring and he's in the HOF.

Answer 5

Tough one but I'd say no