During his playing career, Esiason was named to four Pro Bowls and received first team All-Pro honors. His most successful season came with the Bengals in 1988 when he won NFL Most Valuable Player and led the team to a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXIII, which ended in a close defeat. After nine years in Cincinnati, Esiason spent three seasons with New York and one season with Arizona before returning to the Bengals for his final season in 1997.