I say this with a heavy heart: I am medically retiring from the NFL. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I want to be one of the best linebackers, if not the best linebacker, in the National Football League. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I'm always around the ball. I'm always going to put myself in position to be around the ball and be close to… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I mean, wherever you can play guys and they can be successful it's going to be good for the team. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Injuries are a part of the game of football. Some happen to more people than others. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I love the game of football so much, and my body won't cooperate any longer. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I think that's one of the things I've always really prided myself on is just being a sure tackler. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Me having the same defensive coordinator in back-to-back seasons... I am only going to get better. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
When you are trying to make a tackle, you have to think as if you were the ball-carrier. Trying to hunt, you… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Going in for a tackle, you've got to be able to defeat a block. You have to be able to have the… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I just want everybody to have that one goal, that, 'Hey, we're going to make a Super Bowl run, and we're going… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
All the RPOs and the options that teams are running. They're always trying to match up their fastest guys up on the… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Knowing everybody's job, I take pride in knowing that so I can know if we got to get something right on the… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to the unwavering standard of excellence that professional football demands. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
You've gotta have a special talent to play eight-man football. You've gotta be a well-rounded player. I mean, you're playing both sides… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Obviously, I called the plays on offense, being the quarterback in high school and then going to college and then listening to… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
You've got dudes that have been playing for a team for eight years, and they get traded. They've got family. They've got… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
If you can get your good habits and just the way you play football down to a tee by practicing every single… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
What bugs me most about it is when people that are on the outside, fans or whatever it may be, they want… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
There's so much football to be learned and I'm still learning every single day, trying to better your craft. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Knowing that my first NFL game is going to be one I'm actually playing in, that's pretty neat. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Accountability is first and foremost. I think you need to establish that on every team. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I want to know all the possibilities that can come up before the ball is even snapped on the field. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
They're going to scheme against you and do everything they can to beat you, but you've got to find ways to make… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
It doesn't matter where I'm playing. I'm still going to be making calls on the defense and adjustments and everything I can… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
We could get traded tomorrow. We could get cut tomorrow. So people need to realize what they're saying on social media because… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
People can believe me if they want to believe me, but I know the majority probably won't because they probably overlook eight-man… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
It's the game of football, and the ones that can be resilient and they can bounce back from that and just keep… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
One step makes a huge difference. Obviously, if you're in better position to make a tackle when you're farther up on him… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
We focus on ourselves every single day in practice, every meeting, getting the most out of it, taking it slow, not getting… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
DQ's special. You've got to give him so much credit because the type of coach he is and the way he gets… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
I'm confident in my abilities and my athleticism, in my preparation. It's going to put me in position to make plays on… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share Image
Anytime you're learning a new defense, there's going to be so much of a - everybody uses different words as far as terminology. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
I just want everybody to have that one goal, that, 'Hey, we're going to make a Super Bowl run, and we're going to have… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
You have to be a grown man and take responsibility upon yourself to put the work in that you need to do. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
All the RPOs and the options that teams are running. They're always trying to match up their fastest guys up on the linebackers. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
One step makes a huge difference. Obviously, if you're in better position to make a tackle when you're farther up on him or to… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
I mean, wherever you can play guys and they can be successful it's going to be good for the team. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
Just be yourself and work, gain the respect of others and show them that you care and you're going to give it your all. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
We could get traded tomorrow. We could get cut tomorrow. So people need to realize what they're saying on social media because I think… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
DQ's special. You've got to give him so much credit because the type of coach he is and the way he gets guys to… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
You have to prove yourself every snap. Otherwise you ain't going to last long. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
I think we just need to be accountable for our mistakes and keep being accountable. — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I… — Leighton Vander Esch Copy Share
