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Former Jets QB Sends Clear Message to New Yankees Radio Voice Dave Sims

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated May 12, 2025 7:38 PM ET

Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason clearly expected to hear Dave Sims calling New York Yankees star Aaron Judge’s latest home runs this past weekend.

Esiason got half of what he wanted. Judge mashed two home runs and went 7-for-14 in the Yankees’ three-game series against the Athletics in Sacramento.

However, Sims—the Yankees’ first-year radio play-by-play voice—took the weekend off and turned the microphone over to backup Emmanuel Berbari. Sims instead traveled to Seattle and spent time with family ahead of calling the Yankees’ three-game set with the Mariners.

Speaking candidly on Monday’s “Boomer and Gio” show, Esiason expressed his displeasure and disappointment with the 72-year-old Sims.

“He just got started as the Yankee announcer,” Esiason noted. “He’s 40 games into his career as the Yankee announcer, and he decided to take off.”

Esiason called Sims’ absence “very interesting” and reiterated he remains a fan of the veteran announcer. Sims visited Esiason and co-host Gregg Giannotti in studio shortly after earning the Yankees’ radio job last November.

“I love Dave Sims,” the former New York Jets quarterback said Monday, “but unless there’s something major going on that I don’t know about, then I’ll gladly retract the criticism – what are you doing?”

Sims made it clear on X/Twitter last week that he voluntarily chose not to work the Yankees-A’s series.

“I may be a New Yorker through and through, but coming back to Seattle also feels like coming home,” Sims wrote. “I’ll be skipping the A’s series to have a few extra days here to spend with family & friends. Grateful.”

As of publication, Sims had not responded to Esiason or addressed the 1988 NFL MVP’s comments.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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