Sydney Esiason says farewell to ‘emotional’ WAG life after husband Matt Martin’s NHL retirement

Sydney Esiason is turning the page on her life as an NHL WAG.

Shortly after husband Matt Martin announced his retirement Tuesday after 16 seasons in the league — 14 of which were with the Islanders — the mom of four took to X, where she reflected on the whirlwind of emotions.

“Official retirement from the WAG life,” began Sydney, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. “Awesome, fun, exhausting, emotional, weird at times and a thankless job so be nice to the next gen.”

A fifth-round pick by the Islanders in the 2008 NHL Draft, Martin played the first seven seasons of his career with the team before agreeing to a four-year, $10 million contract with the Maple Leafs in July 2016.

He was traded back to the Islanders two years later, where he played for the remainder of his career.

Martin played in 987 games and tallied 91 goals, 97 assists and 3,936 hits.

He will now pivot to the Islanders’ front office as a special assistant to general manager Mathieu Darche.

As the Islanders’ season concluded in April, Martin — who married Sydney in 2019 — expressed gratitude for his time with the organization.

“This is a special place,” Martin said. “I’ve been so proud to wear this jersey and be a part of this team and community.

“… Through the good and the bad, the heartbreaks, all of it, it’s always been a pleasure to be a part of this team and wear this uniform.”

One day after what would be his final Islanders home game, Sydney gushed over how proud she is of Martin in a heartfelt Instagram post.

“With its trials and tribulations like injuries and scratches, exhausting roadtrips and a few heartbreak losses, all of that will feel like a distant memory in comparison to the insanely gratifying experience of being by your side for the incredible accomplishments and goals you achieved as an individual and as a team,” she penned April 16.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be your wife and to call Long Island home with you and our girls (and our future boys). Our family is and always will be the blue and orange. To the guys and my isles ladies (past and present), the organization and to the fans… I can’t express the love we have for you. It is insurmountable and Isles Nation will always be home.”

Martin and Sydney are parents to daughters Winnie and Alice, and twin boys Henning and Theodore, a.k.a. “Bear,” who arrived June 1.