Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch announced he is medically retiring from the NFL Monday at the young age of 28 after only six seasons in the league.
“I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to the unwavering standard of excellence that professional football demands. I say this with a heavy heart: I am medically retiring from the NFL,” Vander Esch wrote in a letter the Cowboys shared on their website. The Cowboys announced their decision to release him Friday after he failed a medical assessment.
“I love the game of football so much, but my body won’t cooperate any longer. I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I have played,” the former Boise State linebacker wrote.
The @dallascowboys released LB Leighton Vander Esch with a failed physical designation on Friday.
The Cowboys also released WR Michael Gallup – a post-June 1 designation.
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) March 15, 2024
Vander Esch’s career started with a ton of promise. After the Cowboys selected him 19th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft he racked up 140 tackles in a Pro Bowl rookie season. But a persistent neck injury derailed him, limiting him to 55 games over the next five seasons. (RELATED: Story About NFL Draft Day Shows Jerry Jones’ Nepotism Is Out Of Control)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboy returns a fumble for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on September 19, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The injury, which he first sustained in college, prompted him to rock a cowboy collar for the rest of his playing days, giving him an iconic and classic linebacker look rarely seen in today’s NFL.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a 40-0 victory against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after a game against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID: Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch #38 of the Boise State Broncos, the Mountain West Defensive Player of the game, talks with Jesse Kurtz at the conclusion of the Mountain West Championship against the Fresno State Bulldogs on December 2, 2017 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 17-14. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
But the neck roll couldn’t save the star from the brutality of the game, as nerve issues kept him out of games in all but one season since his rookie year.
While I don’t hate the idea of the Cowboys being worse off without him, I always respected Leighton’s hard-nosed play style and his insatiable motor. It’s always sad to see a guy have to leave before his time.