While Boomer Esiason might have one of the most ridiculous haircuts on this list (look it up), he definitely was an offensive leader worth keeping a close eye on as a defensive coordinator. And while Esiason might have also played for some pretty lackluster team's during his decade-plus tenure in the NFL, he's proven why he deserves to be on our top fifty quarterback list of all-time with his size and ability to maneuver outside of the pocket and pick up yardage with his feet. The 6'5 quarterback hailing from East Islip, New York played his collegiate football at the only institution willing to offer him a scholarship, the University of Maryland. While at Maryland, Boomer broke seventeen different football records, was named All-American in his final two seasons (1982 and 1983), and helped the Terrapins secure an ACC Championship over the North Carolina Tar Heels in his final home game.
Despite his impressive play at the University of Maryland, Boomer Esiason was picked 38th overall in the 1984 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals where he played nine seasons out his fourteen-season NFL career. As the starting quarterback of the Bengals, Esiason led the Ohio-based football franchise to Super Bowl XXIII but stood no chance against Joe Montana and the red hot San Francisco 49ers ultimately losing 20-16. Boomer's AFC Player of the Year Award (1988), NFL MVP Award (1988), and three out of his four Pro Bowl nominations all came during his tenure with the Bengals. In 1993, Esiason was traded to the New York Jets where he played from 1993 to 1995 and signed additional contracts with the Arizona Cardinals and his former Bengals team before retiring in 1997.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.