Rhett Bomar
A quarterback whose career was defined by a high-profile transfer and a resilient, if nomadic, journey through professional football.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American football player·Birthday: June 2·Millennials
Biography
Rhett Bomar's football story is a classic tale of promise, controversy, and persistence. At the University of Oklahoma, he was the heir apparent, a highly-touted recruit who started games as a freshman for a national powerhouse. Then, a rules violation related to improper employment led to his dismissal from the team, a seismic event in college football. Unbowed, Bomar transferred to Sam Houston State, where he rewrote the record books, proving his talent was undeniable. The New York Giants drafted him in 2009, and he spent several seasons as a backup in the NFL, with stints on practice squads and rosters for the Vikings and Raiders. While he never became a full-time starter at the professional level, his path from blue-chip prospect to journeyman underscored the unpredictable and demanding nature of life in football.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Rhett was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rhett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Rhett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2005 after starting at quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners.
- Set multiple single-season passing records at Sam Houston State University after his transfer.
- Selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
- Earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Giants' practice squad for their victory in Super Bowl XLVI.
Did You Know?
He was a Parade All-American and the top-ranked high school quarterback prospect in the nation by some services in 2004.
His father, Jerry Bomar, also played quarterback at Oklahoma in the 1970s.
After his NFL career, he served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
He participated in the inaugural season of the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) in 2014.
“I learned that you can’t take anything for granted in this game.”
