NFL Fans Disturbed By Father Of Ex-Cowboys Star's Arrest

Yesterday at 10:59 AM

The father of a former Dallas Cowboys star was arrested on some disturbing charges over the weekend.

Leighton Vander Esch, a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, retired from the game due to injuries following the 2023 season. His father was arrested for domestic violence charges over the weekend. 

Darwin Vander Esch, the father of the former first round NFL Draft pick, was arrested for felony attempted strangulation and cited for misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor intentional destruction of a telecommunication device, according to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office.

The New York Post had more details: 

The department said dispatch had received a call at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday about a domestic battery at a home outside the city of Riggins, Idaho.

Deputies responded to the scene and investigated the call, a news release stated.

Online records appeared to show that Darwin Vander Esch had bonded out of custody. 

NFL fans are disturbed by the news.

"That's a tough headline to read… sometimes the shadows off the field hit harder than anything on it. Hope the family finds a way through this mess," one fan wrote.

"yikes," one fan added.

"Ruh Roh," one fan added.

Vander Esch, 28, announced his retirement from the game following several serious injuries, including some to his neck.

"I love the game of football so much, and my body won't cooperate any longer," the former Cowboys star said following his retirement announcement. "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."