Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch medically retires from NFL

Vander Esch was the team’s top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and started in 65 of the 71 games he played in over a six-year career

Three days after being released by the Dallas Cowboys, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch says he’s retiring from the NFL.

Vander Esch was released with a failed physical designation Friday after missing 12 games with a neck injury in 2023. The injury was the fourth since 2019 involving the 28-year-old’s neck and was considered career-threatening.

1. 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 said in a statement shared by the team.