Former Maryland football star mocks Mike Locksley's Jets interview, questions Terps' NIL-era survival
Boomer Esiason has never been one to keep critical opinions to himself, even when the topic involves his alma mater. On Thursday, the former Maryland star quarterback chimed in on Terps coach Mike Locksley's recent interview for the New York Jets head coaching job.
Boomer Esiason has never been one to keep critical opinions to himself, even when the topic involves his alma mater. On Thursday, the former Maryland star quarterback chimed in on Terps coach Mike Locksley's recent interview for the New York Jets head coaching job.
"I think one of the reasons Mike Locksley, the head coach at the University of Maryland, got an interview was because that was a favor for the agent. And probably a little bit of a favor for Mike to show the University of Maryland that Mike, you know, could leave at any time. And I'm sure Mike's feeling a lot of pressure because it hasn't gone well for the University of Maryland football team over the last three to four years now," Esiason said on Boomer and Gio, his show on New York sports radio station WFAN.
Esiason's definition of "hasn't gone well," must not have been formed in comparison to most other three or four year-spans at Maryland. This past season was brutal for the Terps (4-8 overall, 1-8 Big Ten), but they averaged nearly eight wins during the previous three seasons, winning bowl games three years in a row for the first time in program history.
The former record-setting Maryland quarterback and 1988 NFL MVP didn't leave it there, expressing doubt Locksley and Maryland will thrive in the new revenue-sharing landscape, in which Maryland will pay $20.5 million to its athletes in 2025-2026.
"I don't suspect that it's going to get any better. He can recruit as much as he wants, but his team becomes a development ground for Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, teams that have a lot more money, although supposedly they'll have the same amount of money and be able to share it with their athletes moving forward because of that lawsuit that finally came to an end."
Locksley hasn't spoken publicly about the interview, but his boss has.
"Obviously, I got a call from the president of the Jets and wanted to talk to Locks, and Locks called me about it to get permission, and I'm not going to withhold that permission," Maryland AD Damon Evans said last week during a radio interview.
"It's an opportunity that he wants to take a look at. Obviously, that's something he felt he needed to do, and we'll move on from there. I do appreciate having Locks as our coach, but these things do come up, and we'll handle it appropriately."
