Ryan Leaf
Encyclopedia
Ryan David Leaf is a former American football
player who was a quarterback
in the National Football League
(NFL) for four seasons. He played for the San Diego Chargers
and the Dallas Cowboys
between 1998
and 2001
, and also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and the Seattle Seahawks
.
Leaf had a successful college career at Washington State University
, where he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
after his junior year. He was selected as the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft
where many scouts predicted that Leaf would have a successful career in the league. However, despite his athleticism, his time as a pro was short and marked by injuries. His professional career has been called one of the most disappointing in sports history.
, to the 1992 Montana state title, Leaf played college football
at Washington State University
. He played in 32 games for the Cougars, starting 24 of them. In his junior year, he averaged 330.6 yards passing per game and threw for a then Pac-10
conference record 33 touchdown
s. He also helped the Cougars defeat the Washington Huskies
41-35 for the first time in Husky Stadium since 1985
. Leaf ended the school's 67-year Rose Bowl
drought and helped bring the Cougars their first Pac-10 championship in school history. Despite a strong early showing by Leaf in the Rose Bowl
, the Cougars were defeated 21-16 by the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines
.
That year, Leaf was a finalist in balloting for the Heisman Trophy
, which is given annually to the "most outstanding" player in American college football, as voted on by media figures and former players. He finished third in voting, behind winner Charles Woodson
of Michigan, and fellow quarterback Peyton Manning
of Tennessee
. He also was selected as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, was named first-team All-America
n by The Sporting News
, and finished second in the nation in passing rating. Following the Rose Bowl, Leaf announced that he would forego his senior year at Washington State and turn professional.
er Eric Metcalf
to the Arizona Cardinals
to move up one spot and guarantee that the team would get one of the two quarterbacks.
On draft day Manning was selected first by the Indianapolis Colts
and Leaf was selected second by the Chargers. The Chargers signed Leaf to a four-year contract worth $31.25 million, including a guaranteed $11.25 million signing bonus
. It was at the time, the largest signing bonus ever paid to a rookie. Leaf stated on draft day, "I'm looking forward to a 15-year career, a couple of trips to the Super Bowl
and a parade through downtown San Diego".
was marked by bad performances. Before the season started, Leaf skipped a symposium
that was mandatory for all players who were drafted, resulting in a fine. Leaf did well in the preseason, leading the Chargers to win his first two games as a rookie, becoming the first quarterback since John Elway
in the 1983 NFL season
to do so. But, in the third game of the season, he completed one of 15 passes for four yards, threw two interceptions, and fumble
d three times in a loss against the Kansas City Chiefs
. He was benched after throwing two touchdown passes and thirteen interceptions in nine games, and was replaced by quarterback Craig Whelihan
. In ten games that season, Leaf threw two touchdown passes and fifteen interceptions, passing for 1,289 yards and had a 45.3 percent completion rate, with a poor quarterback rating of 39.
Leaf had a bad relationship with the media
and his teammates, whom he tended to blame for his poor play. In one locker room incident during Leaf's rookie year, he was caught on camera screaming at San Diego Union Tribune reporter Jay Posner, saying "Knock it off!" and then Leaf had to be physically restrained by teammate Junior Seau
. Another on-camera incident involved Leaf confronting a heckling Charger fan during a practice session. Two coaches had to restrain Leaf and escort him off the field. His relationship with former Chargers safety Rodney Harrison
was notoriously acrimonious; Harrison described being a member of the Chargers during Leaf's rookie season as "a nightmare you can't even imagine." After news of Leaf's retirement in 2002, Harrison was quoted as saying, "he probably did the best thing; he took his money and ran."
Leaf missed his entire second season due to a shoulder injury uncovered by a pre-season physical. He was placed on injured reserve
but made headlines for getting into a heated shouting match with Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard
and another coach. The incident resulted in a fine, a suspension without pay and an apology by Leaf four weeks later. Leaf also allegedly lied about a hand injury in order to get out of practice so that he could play golf instead.
Leaf started the first two games of the 2000
season, completing less than half of his pass attempts and throwing for five interceptions and one touchdown. When backup Moses Moreno
went down with a strained knee ligament, the Chargers gave Leaf more playing time. However, he injured his wrist while throwing an interception in a week four game and did not play again until week eleven. Following more poor performances and injury problems, he was released by the Chargers after the season, with a record of only four wins as a starter in three years.
, who were intrigued by his physical talent and planned to develop his abilities more slowly by having him watch and learn. However, Leaf's wrist still had not healed. He refused to have surgery despite doctors' strong recommendations. After mediocre performances in the Buccaneers's four preseason games, the club asked Leaf to be their No. 4 quarterback and accept a lower salary. He refused and the club released him just five days before the start of the 2001
season. Leaf did not have any recurrences of the emotional outbursts or off-field incidents that tarnished his career with the Chargers.
Leaf attempted a comeback with the Dallas Cowboys
, who signed him a few weeks after the Buccaneers released him. He failed his first physical and had some trouble passing the second due to his wrist. The Cowboys released him in May 2002, after he had appeared in four games — all losses — throwing for 494 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Leaf was signed days later to a one year contract by the Seattle Seahawks
, who, like the Buccaneers, planned to let him develop slowly in order to allow him to heal from his injuries. The quarterback attended the team's spring minicamps and seemed upbeat about his new team. However, Leaf retired at the age of 26, just prior to the start of the Seahawks' 2002
training camp, initially offering no explanation. Seahawks coach and general manager Mike Holmgren
said Leaf's wrist did not bother him with the Cowboys or the Seahawks. Leaf later cited his injuries for his retirement.
During his brief career in the NFL, Leaf appeared in 25 games and made 21 starts. He completed 317 of 655 passes for 3,666 yards, with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Leaf's career quarterback rating was 50.0.
The sports network ESPN
listed Leaf first on their list of the 25 Biggest Sports Flops between 1979-2004. MSNBC
commentator Michael Ventre went so far as to call him "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports." Each year, sports writers often speculate on which player who is drafted will be "the next Ryan Leaf", that is, the next big college superstar to flop in the pros. In 2010, the NFL Network
listed Leaf as the #1 NFL quarterback bust of all time.
Leaf's younger brother, Brady, was a backup quarterback (also a cornerback) for the Oregon Ducks football team
.
Leaf joined Don Carthel
's West Texas A&M University
coaching staff as a volunteer quarterbacks coach in 2006. He stated: "I feel very honored to be a part of Coach Carthel's staff and a part of an up-and-coming successful program. (...) About a year after I retired from playing, I decided that I wanted to get back to college, where I had the greatest time of my life, and to get involved with college football." Leaf also admitted that he was unprepared for the NFL when he was drafted back in 1998.
In April 2008, ESPN described Leaf as having come to terms with his past, with Leaf saying, "When playing football became a job, it lost its luster for me. I kind of got out of the spotlight and life's never been this good."
On November 5, 2008, Leaf was put on indefinite leave from his coaching position at West Texas A&M for allegedly asking one of his players for a pill to help him deal with pain in his wrist from past injuries, according to ESPN's Joe Schad. One day later, he resigned from his coaching position. The team was 11-2 on the year and quarterback Keith Null
was selected in the 6th round of the 2009 NFL Draft
and later started for the St. Louis Rams
.
On May 21, 2009, Leaf was indicted on burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas. He was reportedly undergoing drug rehab in British Columbia at the time of the indictment and would be arrested by customs agents as he returned to the United States from Canada. On June 17, 2009, he posted $45,000 bond in Washington state for the criminal charges in Texas. On April 14, 2010, Leaf pleaded guilty in Amarillo, Texas, to seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery of a simulated controlled substance, all felonies. State District Judge John B. Board sentenced Leaf to 10 years of probation and fined him $20,000.
In October 2009, it was reported that Leaf is living in Vancouver, Canada, and is a business development manager for a travel company. He feels that Vancouver is a fresh start and enjoys anonymity.
In December 2010, Leaf signed a contract to write three autobiographical books focusing on aspects of his football career and subsequent personal life.
In June 2011, Leaf had surgery to remove a benign tumor from his brain stem
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who was a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) for four seasons. He played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
between 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
and 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
, and also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.
Leaf had a successful college career at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, where he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
after his junior year. He was selected as the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
where many scouts predicted that Leaf would have a successful career in the league. However, despite his athleticism, his time as a pro was short and marked by injuries. His professional career has been called one of the most disappointing in sports history.
College career
After having led his high school, Charles M. Russell High SchoolCharles M. Russell High School
Charles M. Russell High School is a public high school in Great Falls, Montana. It is part of the Great Falls Public Schools system. It is one of two high schools in the city, the other being Great Falls High School. The doors to the new school were officially opened for students on September 7,...
, to the 1992 Montana state title, Leaf played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. He played in 32 games for the Cougars, starting 24 of them. In his junior year, he averaged 330.6 yards passing per game and threw for a then Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
conference record 33 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He also helped the Cougars defeat the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
41-35 for the first time in Husky Stadium since 1985
1985 in sports
1985 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Michela Figini, Switzerland-American football:...
. Leaf ended the school's 67-year Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
drought and helped bring the Cougars their first Pac-10 championship in school history. Despite a strong early showing by Leaf in the Rose Bowl
1998 Rose Bowl
The 1998 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1998 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. It was the 84th Rose Bowl Game. The game featured Michigan beating Washington State by a score of 21–16. The ending of the game is controversial...
, the Cougars were defeated 21-16 by the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
.
That year, Leaf was a finalist in balloting for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, which is given annually to the "most outstanding" player in American college football, as voted on by media figures and former players. He finished third in voting, behind winner Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
of Michigan, and fellow quarterback Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
of Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
. He also was selected as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, was named first-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, and finished second in the nation in passing rating. Following the Rose Bowl, Leaf announced that he would forego his senior year at Washington State and turn professional.
1998 Draft
Entering the 1998 draft, Manning and Leaf were widely considered to be the two best players available, and scouts and analysts debated whether Leaf or Manning should be selected first. Many advocated for Leaf and his stronger arm, while others saw Manning as the more mature player. The differences in potential between the two seemed small enough, however, that most observers expected it would not greatly matter whether a team selected Manning or Leaf, as either quarterback would greatly benefit the team that selected him. The San Diego Chargers had the third pick of the draft, but traded two first round picks, a second round pick, and three time Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Eric Metcalf
Eric Metcalf
Eric Quinn Metcalf is a former American football running back and wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Browns, Falcons, Chargers, Cardinals, Panthers, Redskins and Packers...
to the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
to move up one spot and guarantee that the team would get one of the two quarterbacks.
On draft day Manning was selected first by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
and Leaf was selected second by the Chargers. The Chargers signed Leaf to a four-year contract worth $31.25 million, including a guaranteed $11.25 million signing bonus
Signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee, e.g., if the annual salary is lower than he or she desires...
. It was at the time, the largest signing bonus ever paid to a rookie. Leaf stated on draft day, "I'm looking forward to a 15-year career, a couple of trips to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
and a parade through downtown San Diego".
San Diego Chargers
San Diego's high hopes for Leaf were soon dashed, as his rookie season1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
was marked by bad performances. Before the season started, Leaf skipped a symposium
Symposium
In ancient Greece, the symposium was a drinking party. Literary works that describe or take place at a symposium include two Socratic dialogues, Plato's Symposium and Xenophon's Symposium, as well as a number of Greek poems such as the elegies of Theognis of Megara...
that was mandatory for all players who were drafted, resulting in a fine. Leaf did well in the preseason, leading the Chargers to win his first two games as a rookie, becoming the first quarterback since John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
in the 1983 NFL season
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
to do so. But, in the third game of the season, he completed one of 15 passes for four yards, threw two interceptions, and fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d three times in a loss against the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He was benched after throwing two touchdown passes and thirteen interceptions in nine games, and was replaced by quarterback Craig Whelihan
Craig Whelihan
Craig Dominic Whelihan , is an arena football quarterback with the San Jose SaberCats in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of the Pacific.-High school years:...
. In ten games that season, Leaf threw two touchdown passes and fifteen interceptions, passing for 1,289 yards and had a 45.3 percent completion rate, with a poor quarterback rating of 39.
Leaf had a bad relationship with the media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
and his teammates, whom he tended to blame for his poor play. In one locker room incident during Leaf's rookie year, he was caught on camera screaming at San Diego Union Tribune reporter Jay Posner, saying "Knock it off!" and then Leaf had to be physically restrained by teammate Junior Seau
Junior Seau
Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers during the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker".A ten-time All-Pro and...
. Another on-camera incident involved Leaf confronting a heckling Charger fan during a practice session. Two coaches had to restrain Leaf and escort him off the field. His relationship with former Chargers safety Rodney Harrison
Rodney Harrison
Rodney Scott Harrison is a retired professional football player of the National Football League. Harrison played safety for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots...
was notoriously acrimonious; Harrison described being a member of the Chargers during Leaf's rookie season as "a nightmare you can't even imagine." After news of Leaf's retirement in 2002, Harrison was quoted as saying, "he probably did the best thing; he took his money and ran."
Leaf missed his entire second season due to a shoulder injury uncovered by a pre-season physical. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
but made headlines for getting into a heated shouting match with Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard
Bobby Beathard
Bobby Beathard is a former general manager in the National Football League. Over the course of his 38 years in the NFL, his teams competed in seven Super Bowls , beginning with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1966, Miami Dolphins in 1972 and 1973, Washington Redskins in 1982, 1983, and 1987, and the San...
and another coach. The incident resulted in a fine, a suspension without pay and an apology by Leaf four weeks later. Leaf also allegedly lied about a hand injury in order to get out of practice so that he could play golf instead.
Leaf started the first two games of the 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
season, completing less than half of his pass attempts and throwing for five interceptions and one touchdown. When backup Moses Moreno
Moses Moreno
Moses Moreno was an American football quarterback. His brother, Zeke Moreno, also played in the National Football League as a middle linebacker....
went down with a strained knee ligament, the Chargers gave Leaf more playing time. However, he injured his wrist while throwing an interception in a week four game and did not play again until week eleven. Following more poor performances and injury problems, he was released by the Chargers after the season, with a record of only four wins as a starter in three years.
Subsequent career and retirement
After being waived by San Diego on March 1, 2001, Leaf was claimed by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, who were intrigued by his physical talent and planned to develop his abilities more slowly by having him watch and learn. However, Leaf's wrist still had not healed. He refused to have surgery despite doctors' strong recommendations. After mediocre performances in the Buccaneers's four preseason games, the club asked Leaf to be their No. 4 quarterback and accept a lower salary. He refused and the club released him just five days before the start of the 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
season. Leaf did not have any recurrences of the emotional outbursts or off-field incidents that tarnished his career with the Chargers.
Leaf attempted a comeback with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, who signed him a few weeks after the Buccaneers released him. He failed his first physical and had some trouble passing the second due to his wrist. The Cowboys released him in May 2002, after he had appeared in four games — all losses — throwing for 494 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Leaf was signed days later to a one year contract by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, who, like the Buccaneers, planned to let him develop slowly in order to allow him to heal from his injuries. The quarterback attended the team's spring minicamps and seemed upbeat about his new team. However, Leaf retired at the age of 26, just prior to the start of the Seahawks' 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
training camp, initially offering no explanation. Seahawks coach and general manager Mike Holmgren
Mike Holmgren
Michael George Holmgren is a former professional football coach and current President of the Cleveland Browns. He served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008...
said Leaf's wrist did not bother him with the Cowboys or the Seahawks. Leaf later cited his injuries for his retirement.
During his brief career in the NFL, Leaf appeared in 25 games and made 21 starts. He completed 317 of 655 passes for 3,666 yards, with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Leaf's career quarterback rating was 50.0.
The sports network ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
listed Leaf first on their list of the 25 Biggest Sports Flops between 1979-2004. MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
commentator Michael Ventre went so far as to call him "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports." Each year, sports writers often speculate on which player who is drafted will be "the next Ryan Leaf", that is, the next big college superstar to flop in the pros. In 2010, the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
listed Leaf as the #1 NFL quarterback bust of all time.
Personal life
In 2001, Leaf married one of the Chargers cheerleaders, Nicole. They separated two years later and divorced soon after. Leaf went back to college and enrolled in a sports management class called Media Relations at Washington State. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in arts and humanities in May 2005.Leaf's younger brother, Brady, was a backup quarterback (also a cornerback) for the Oregon Ducks football team
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
.
Leaf joined Don Carthel
Don Carthel
Don Carthel is an American football coach. He currently serves as head football coach at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.-Early years:...
's West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University , part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas, a small city south of Amarillo. West Texas A&M opened on September 20, 1910...
coaching staff as a volunteer quarterbacks coach in 2006. He stated: "I feel very honored to be a part of Coach Carthel's staff and a part of an up-and-coming successful program. (...) About a year after I retired from playing, I decided that I wanted to get back to college, where I had the greatest time of my life, and to get involved with college football." Leaf also admitted that he was unprepared for the NFL when he was drafted back in 1998.
In April 2008, ESPN described Leaf as having come to terms with his past, with Leaf saying, "When playing football became a job, it lost its luster for me. I kind of got out of the spotlight and life's never been this good."
On November 5, 2008, Leaf was put on indefinite leave from his coaching position at West Texas A&M for allegedly asking one of his players for a pill to help him deal with pain in his wrist from past injuries, according to ESPN's Joe Schad. One day later, he resigned from his coaching position. The team was 11-2 on the year and quarterback Keith Null
Keith Null
Keith Null is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2009 NFL Draft...
was selected in the 6th round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
and later started for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
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On May 21, 2009, Leaf was indicted on burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas. He was reportedly undergoing drug rehab in British Columbia at the time of the indictment and would be arrested by customs agents as he returned to the United States from Canada. On June 17, 2009, he posted $45,000 bond in Washington state for the criminal charges in Texas. On April 14, 2010, Leaf pleaded guilty in Amarillo, Texas, to seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery of a simulated controlled substance, all felonies. State District Judge John B. Board sentenced Leaf to 10 years of probation and fined him $20,000.
In October 2009, it was reported that Leaf is living in Vancouver, Canada, and is a business development manager for a travel company. He feels that Vancouver is a fresh start and enjoys anonymity.
In December 2010, Leaf signed a contract to write three autobiographical books focusing on aspects of his football career and subsequent personal life.
In June 2011, Leaf had surgery to remove a benign tumor from his brain stem
Brain stem
In vertebrate anatomy the brainstem is the posterior part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. The brain stem provides the main motor and sensory innervation to the face and neck via the cranial nerves...
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