It was time.
Boomer Esiason appeared nearly relieved as he mentioned his departure this week from his The NFL Today cohosting duties, saying he was planning on leaving anyway.
It was introduced this week that Esiason and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms will not be on the present.
Esiason stated Friday throughout an interview on The Dan LeBatard Show that he’s looking for a greater work-life stability.
“I was more than happy to step aside. I had my time there,” Esiason stated. “I loved that seat. I cherished that seat, I cherished talking to football fans every Sunday, but there comes a time when you have to find some time for yourself. And this was the right time.”
Esiason, 63, introduced on his WFAN morning present final week that he was ‘stepping away” from CBS’ flagship NFL present. But he has signed a long-term deal to stay on the radio with co-host Gregg Giannotti.
Simms, 68, introduced on X that he wouldn’t be again with CBS after a 26-year run.
Matt Ryan and J.J. Watt might be becoming a member of James Brown, Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher on the present.
Esasion stated he was pondering he would return to CBS for yet another 12 months at most if the community needed him again.
“When Sean McManus, who did hire me back in 2022, announced his retirement as CBS Sports chairman, I felt like it was a natural thing,” Esiason stated. “I wanted to say something at the Super Bowl, I didn’t think it was appropriate. I knew that Phil (Simms) did not want to retire from this particular show, I was ready. 22 years, I have not had a weekend in 40 years … for me, it’s been a great run.”
The former Jets and Bengals quarterback known as his time at CBS a “great run.”
“Not one person at CBS, not one boss, not one producer, not one director ever came to me and said, ‘Maybe you should back off with that kind of criticism,’” Esiason added. “I’ve had a number of controversial topics that we had to deal with in the NFL over the last 20 years. So I loved my time there, I have no ill will toward anybody.”