Former NFL quarterback and current analyst Ryan Leaf has been through a lot in his life. After becoming an All-American quarterback at Washington State and being drafted No. 2 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Chargers, his career fell off. He would go on to play in just 25 games across the three seasons when he wasn’t on a practice squad. He ended up having a total record of 4-17 as a starter while tossing 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. In a recent appearance on the Ross Tucker Podcast, Leaf chatted about when he knew his career was over.
“My NFL career was over after 3 games and I was 2-1 as a starter…” pic.com/dZIJCmX7d1
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) June 25, 2024
Leaf noted that the reason his career was over was because of how he reacted to his first NFL loss against the Chiefs. He went 1 of 15 passing and threw multiple interceptions. Leaf’s inability to handle himself professionally and his inability to grow made his NFL life short. After his career was over, he got into a lot of trouble with the law. In fact, he almost lost his life. Now, the 48-year-old has found his place as an analyst for multiple networks and is using his story to help other people. Those people are either NFL quarterbacks or people struggling with their own mental health. He has come to grips with who he once was and has truly grown as a human being over the years. His unique and inspirational story is one that young players and young people alike should learn from.
