When an NFL player retires, it's usually a bittersweet moment.
In Leighton Vander Esch's case, I'm sure he's trying to make the best of the situation but it's likely more bitter than sweet.
In a post late Monday morning, the former Cowboys linebacker and first-round pick announced his official retirement from the NFL due to medical reasons.
The Wolfhunter, as Cowboys Nation affectionately knows him, actually penned a heartfelt letter to announce his retirement.
Here is a snippet of that letter:
“I say this with a heavy heart: I am medically retiring from the NFL. I love the game of football so much, but my body won't cooperate any longer. I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I have played.”
Vander Esch was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft from Boise State University.
He immediately established himself as a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, earning 2nd-team All-Pro honors and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
The Cowboys knew about LVE's neck injury issues but they drafted him anyway.
That first season appeared to make the Cowboys geniuses, but beginning in his second season, LVE's neck issues made their way back.
He would go on to miss 13 games over the next couple of seasons and never did return to his rookie form.
What Does This Mean For LVE?
Well, obviously his NFL career is over. Could he have a future in coaching?
Vander Esch was a very smart player. He needed to be to play middle linebacker and call the defense.
Linebackers tend to make good coaches simply because of the preparation they put themselves through as players.
One of those notable head coaches right now would be DeMeco Ryans, who led the Houston Texans to the playoffs in his first season as head coach.
At just 28 years old, Vander Esch can choose what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but coaching would be a smart thing to do.
What Does This Mean For the Cowboys?
First, it means they will need to replace a player responsible for lining up his teammates on defense for the past five years.
Vander Esch wore the green dot on his helmet, signifying that the defensive coordinator's play calls went straight into his ears.
He would then make the calls necessary for his defense to be successful on each particular play.
Not every player can handle those responsibilities on top of their own, and the Cowboys may struggle to find who that player is on their current defense.
For 2024 they may be ok after adding veteran Eric Kendricks to the team last week, but what about after that?
Damone Clark is entering his third season but has yet to be trusted to make the defensive calls, even after Vander Esch's injury in Week 5 of 2023.
It seems the Cowboys are putting quite a few of their eggs in DeMarvion Overshown's basket, even though he sat his entire rookie season with a torn ACL.
Dallas would be wise to try and find the next Leighton Vander Esch in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Vander Esch finishes his NFL (and Cowboys) career with 469 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions.
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