Idaho native Leighton Vander Esch is retiring from the NFL
Former Boise State Bronco and Riggins, Idaho native Leighton Vander Esch is retiring from the NFL.
NFL.com and The Dallas Cowboys both confirm Vander Esch is calling it quits after six professional seasons. His career began with the Cowboys, but he was released on Friday.
Vander Esch proved his value at linebacker by earning a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors in his very first season.
Before that, he walked on at Boise State University as a redshirt freshman in 2015.
He retires with 71 regular-season games played, 469 tackles (13 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
The former Pro Bowl linebacker and first-round pick suffered a neck injury in October that forced him onto season-ending injured reserve in 2023, an injury that has also now ended his NFL career.
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