Chris “Boomer” Berman has been a staple of ESPN programming since the channel’s inception in 1979. Recently, he opened up about his legendary career to Puck‘s John Ourand on The Varsity podcast.
Boomer celebrated his 45th anniversary at the Worldwide Leader last week, and was asked about how much longer he plans to extend his storied career. Berman suggested that, while there aren’t any firm plans, he still has the same drive and passion for the craft that he always has.
“You know, when the alarm goes off Sunday morning, I’m still really excited. You get to go and a) watch all the games, pretty cool, and then talk about ’em. And it keeps me current in the sport because I’m calling coaches and GMs, not as friends which a lot of them would be if I were not doing it anymore, but I have a reason to call them and they have a reason to tell me some stuff…It keeps me in the game. I love football, obviously, as do millions of folks.”
Ourand then suggested that perhaps 50 years at ESPN would be the right time for The Swami to call it a career.
“The number 50 only hit my mind this summer. Like, okay, you got about a year to go. We have a Super Bowl in a couple years and I’d like to think they’ll keep me around for that, whatever that means, and maybe in the exact same capacity. Well if that’s the case, that’d be 48. I don’t know if you get a gold watch or a Mickey Mouse watch.
“I’m not going to do it just to do it. Like, the number 50 isn’t out there like ‘Oh. My. God.’ At 30 years old my goal was to be in the business 50 years, who knew in one place. So it’s not a be-all-end-all at all, but I think as long as I have a lot to offer and people are enjoying it, I’d love to get to 50.”
Berman’s presence on linear ESPN has been reduced in recent years, though he still hosts his “fastest two minutes” during halftime of Monday Night Football. However, Boomer continues to lead his legendary NFL highlight show NFL Primetime on ESPN+, where the show has found a home since 2019.
With ESPN’s first Super Bowl coming up in two years, it’d only feel right to have a representative from the network’s early days have an on-air role for such a seminal moment.