Booger McFarland is well-known as a pundit on various sports talk shows. However, before embarking on a broadcasting career, he had another job. One basic fact about Booger McFarland is that “Booger” is not his real name. His real name is Anthony Darelle McFarland. Here’s a look at the defensive lineman’s college and football career.
Booger McFarland Starred for LSU Tigers
Suiting up at nose guard, McFarland was a four-year starter at Louisiana State University where he served as defensive co-captain during his senior season. According to the Tigers website, the 6-foot-1, 290-pounder finished No. 6 on LSU’s all-time sack list with 17 quarterback takedowns.
McFarland won many awards during his college career, including accolades for 1995 SEC Freshman Co-Defensive Player of the Year, 1996 Peach Bowl SEC Defensive MVP, 1996 Second-Team All-SEC, and 1998 First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC.
In 1995, LSU used him at fullback in short-yardage situations, and he caught a touchdown pass against Florida. McFarland didn’t have a redshirt season, either, proving that he didn’t need any time to warm up to the college level. He was ready on Day 1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Drafted LSU Star
McFarland was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15 overall in the 1999 NFL Draft and went on to play eight seasons there. He would rack up 22.5 sacks and 257 total tackles (49 for loss) in 109 games, including a brief stint in Indianapolis.
During his first season with Tampa Bay, McFarland saw action in 14 games while picking up a sack in a part-time role. The Buccaneers transitioned McFarland to a starter in 2000 and watched him shine with a career-high 6.5 sacks in 16 games. He also totaled 50 total tackles, tying his career-best numbers in that statistic.
McFarland remained a productive player for the franchise until the 2006 season when Tampa Bay sent him packing to the Indianapolis Colts. He recorded 2.5 sacks in 11 games in what would be his final NFL season, playing alongside Peyton Manning.
“My first day in the locker room he played a joke on me,” McFarland said about Manning. “He got the pen, and he goes, ‘Hey, I need you to sign this ball.’ And it’s one of those pens that when you press it down it shocks you.”
Those two forged a fast friendship after that. McFarland retired with two Super Bowl championships, one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 (he didn’t play in that game) and another one with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. The latter saw him collect two sacks over four playoff games, culminating in the raising of the Lombardi Trophy.