Leighton Vander Esch has announced his retirement after a neck injury forced him to call time on his career – with the linebacker hanging up his boots at the age of 28
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch has had to stop playing in the NFL because of a neck injury.
Vander Esch, 28, was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, as he was the 19th pick. The linebacker told NFL fans about his retirement on Instagram with a message that was full of emotions.
“Today is a difficult day for me, but it is also a day of reflection and gratitude,” Vander Esch wrote. “Playing for the Jones Family, Coach (Jason) Garrett, (Mike) McCarthy, (Rod) Marinelli, (Kris) Richard, DQ (Dan Quinn), (Ben) Bloom, George (Edwards), AD, and Scotty (McCurley) have been the best days of my life.
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“My dream of playing for the Dallas Cowboys came to reality on April 26, 2018. That night will forever be a night I’ll never forget. During my six years as a Cowboys player, I’ve always pursued success and winning football games, while preparing and training with the highest standards of competition, passion, and perseverance. It has been an honour to represent my family, my teammates, and the people of Dallas.”
Then Jerry Jones, who owns the Cowboys, said thank you to Vander Esch for his dedication over the past six seasons and told the linebacker he’d be missed by the franchise.
“Seldom do you come across a player like Leighton, who grew up playing eight-man football only to first play the 11-man game at the major collegiate level and excel,” Jones said in a statement on Monday. “His passion and love for the game was contagious, and from the moment he arrived, he has been a difference maker.
