frisco – Just days after being released by the Dallas Cowboys, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch announced he is retiring from the NFL due to neck problems.
“Today is a difficult day for me, but it is also a day of reflection and gratitude,” Vander Esch wrote on social media.
he was there Released with failure of physical designation After missing 12 games with a neck injury in 2023, this is the 28-year-old's fourth neck injury since 2019 that was deemed career-threatening.
“We recognize that we can no longer live up to the unwavering standards of excellence that professional football demands,” he continued.
After his first neck injury in 2019, Vander Esch was diagnosed with a narrow spinal column and underwent fusion surgery. His most recent injury occurred in Week 5 of last year against San Francisco when he was pushed from behind and hit his neck against the right leg of his teammate Micah Parsons.
Vander Esch suffered from neck problems during his time at Boise State before being drafted in the first round by the Cowboys, but he set a club rookie record with 176 tackles during his only Pro Bowl appearance.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, “It's not every day you come across a player like Leighton, a guy who grew up playing 8-man football, played his first 11-man college level, and excelled.'' he said. “His passion and love for the game was contagious and he was a difference maker from the moment he arrived. His grit, toughness, motivation, determination and football IQ will be sorely missed. Leighton also , embodying strong character and personal qualities that make him more than just a skilled player.
Vander Esch was a first-round draft pick in 2018 and spent his entire professional career in Dallas.
