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,” wrote in a 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 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) Vander Esch’s career started with a ton of promise. After the 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. 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 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 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.