Ryan Leaf

Ryan David Leaf (born May 15, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys between 1998 and 2001. Leaf played college football with the Washington State Cougars, finishing as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy after his junior year. He was selected as the second overall pick by the Chargers in the 1998 NFL draft after Peyton Manning, but his career was shortened due to poor play, bad behavior, injuries, and struggles with his work ethic. He was released by the Chargers after three seasons, compiling a 4–14 record as the team's starting quarterback and notably missing the entire 1999 season due to injury. After an offseason stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Leaf played in four regular season games with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2002 offseason, but abruptly retired before the season began. After his NFL career ended, Leaf completed his degree at Washington State. He had legal troubles involving drugs beginning in 2010 when a Texas judge sentenced him to 10 years’ probation. From 2012 to 2014, Leaf served time in Montana state prison after pleading guilty to felony burglary and drug possession, a sentence that simultaneously counted towards time served for a probation violation in Texas. In 2020, he pled guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in California and was sentenced to probation. Leaf has worked as a Program Ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community, a group of sober living houses in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. He also hosts a radio show and works as a college football analyst on television.