Why did Ryan Leaf go to jail? Know how the Heisman Trophy finalist’s life took a dark turn
(Image via Baltimore Sun)
Ryan Leaf is a name known in the NFL as a former QB who played for roughly 4 seasons with various teams like the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even Seattle Seahawks. However, his career took a downfall due to bad behavior, improper work ethic, and even poor play that questioned his overall ability to focus on the game, which was due to his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Leaf was even titled the No 1. “Draft Bust” in one of the episodes of NFL Top Ten. Soon his career came to an end, and he entered a big tunnel of legal troubles in his life. His life became a series of unfortunate events which made him spend most of his years in jail.
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Ryan Leaf’s multiple tussles with the law
The law battles that Leaf fought began back in 2009 when he was busted for burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas. He was later arrested by customs agents while returning from the US, at the border, intending to fly to Texas to surrender himself for the charges put; however, he was legally allowed to fly on his own.
For all the felonies to which he was held guilty, Ryan Leaf was charged with a $20,000 fine and was sentenced to 10 years of probation. Later in 2012, he was arrested for theft charges in his hometown of Montana, followed by an arrest warrant for him for possession of a dangerous drug and burglary. He was sentenced to 7 years in the custody of the Montana Department of Corrections, where his 9 months were allotted entirely to addiction treatment.
Leaf’s addiction and probation came a long way in life with him with his current act in May 2020, where he was arrested for a misdemeanor domestic battery in Palm Desert, California. He later admitted to his charges, which resulted in 3 years of probation along with a yearlong class on domestic violence.
Reflecting on the life of Leaf, it looks like a football and the NFL served a small scoop in his life. However, there is always a new beginning after bad phases. Looking down to all the obscurities faced, Ryan Leaf showed up in the public eye as a college football analyst for ESPN. He currently maintains his own podcast, where he inspires the youth about how sober life has changed him in every sense of living.
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Donna Karen Robinson
(246 Articles Published)