Boise State Football Legend Leighton Vander Esch Retires From NFL

Tuesday afternoon, former Boise State Bronco and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch announced his medical retirement from football. Vander

© Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday afternoon, former Boise State Bronco and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch announced his medical retirement from football. 

Vander Esch was the #19 overall selection by Dallas in the 2018 NFL Draft. He made 65 starts for the Cowboys, totaling 469 tackles with 13 TFLs, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

RELATED: 2024 NFL Draft Profile: Boise State RB George Holani

"I would like to thank Boise State University for taking on a kid from Riggins, Idaho as a walk-on and letting me grow into the player that became a first round pick.," Vander Esch noted in a lengthy statement on his Instagram page. He then went on to thank former Boise State head coaches Bryan Harsin and Andy Avalos for their commitment to helping him grow his game. 

"Coach Harsin, I am thankful for the opportunity you gave me to play at my dream college. Growing up and going to the Boise State games as a kid, it was always my dream to wear that blue and orange uniform. Coach Avalos, I owe you for life and appreciate all the work you put into me. You truly believed in me and never let me settle for anything less than greatness. Still to this day, you are a father figure in my life. There are countless memories on and off the field that I reminisce on."

Vander Esch was the 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year with Boise State and the defensive MVP of the 2017 Mountain West Championship game. He's one of two Boise State players to win MWC DPOY (Curtis Weaver, 2019).