The story of Ryan Leaf is a cautionary tale.
One of the most talented quarterback prospects going into the NFL Draft in 1998 out of Washington State, Leaf was drafted at No. 2 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
He would go on to start just 21 games in his NFL career and play in a total of just 25.
His career record as a starter was 4-17.
The Montana native would throw 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions before retiring in 2002 at the age of 26 after multiple practice squad stints with the Bucs, Cowboys, and Seahawks.
The reasons why Leaf couldn’t make it in the NFL are significant.
He struggled to stay focused, behaved poorly, and he battled both injuries and off-the-field issues.
Those off-the-field issues continued when his career was over.
However, while recently on the Ross Tucker Podcast, Leaf chatted about why it isn’t hard to share his story now.
“If I didn’t like who I was now, it would be very difficult…I like who I am and that was not always the case…There’s definitely individuals out there that follow you and are still struggling,” Leaf stated.
Is it hard for @RyanDLeaf to tell people his story? pic.twitter.com/BNc9ZBvbPc
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) June 24, 2024
It is really neat to see how Leaf has responded to the struggles that shaped him when he was younger.
No, he didn’t find success in the NFL, but he still made it to the league after being an All-American in college.
Now, he is using his experiences to help other people fight their battles.
He also is a very successful analyst and media member as he has worked for ESPN, Westwood One, and the NFL Network in recent years.
Leaf has owned his mistakes and is comfortable with who he is.
That is a pretty special thing.
