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The father of retired former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was arrested in relation to domestic violence charges over the weekend.
Darwin Vander Esch, 61, "was arrested for felony attempted strangulation, as well as cited for misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor intentional destruction of a telecommunication device" on Sunday (December 1), the Idaho County Sheriff's Office announced in a post shared on its Facebook account Monday (December 2).
"On December 1, 2024, at approximately 12:16 AM, Idaho County Dispatch received a report of a domestic battery that had occurred on Seven Devils Rd outside of Riggins, Idaho," the department wrote in the Facebook post. "Idaho County Deputies responded and investigated the incident."
The elder Vander Esch has reportedly since bonded out of custody, according to online records accessed by the New York Post. No additional details about the incident were made available as of Tuesday (December 3) morning.
Leighton Vander Esch, 28, who announced his sudden retirement in March, hasn't publicly commented on his father's arrest. The former All-Pro linebacker missed the majority of the 2023 season due to a neck injury and was released by the Cowboys after spending his entire six-year career with the franchise on March 15, three days prior to his retirement announcement.
"I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to the unwavering standard of excellence that professional football demands," Vander Esch wrote in a post shared on his now-private Instagram account at the time. "I say this with a heavy heart: I am medically retiring from the NFL. I love the game of football so much, and my body won't cooperate any longer.
"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. This year, things may look a little different for me, but the sole focus is being a great husband and father for my loving family."
Vander Esch was selected by the Cowboys at No. 19 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft and recorded a career-best 140 tackles during his rookie season, having been selected as both a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. But the former Boise State standout was limited by several injuries throughout his career, including multiple neck injuries, having initially been diagnosed with a cervical neck pinched nerve during his collegiate career in 2016 before later undergoing neck surgery to alleviate issues that forced him to miss seven games in 2019.
Vander Esch was placed on season-ending injured reserve in October for what would ultimately be a career-ending injury.
"Seldom do you come across a player like Leighton, who grew up playing eight-man football only to first play the 11-man game at the major collegiate level and excel," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement shared by NFL.com on Monday. "His passion and love for the game was contagious, and from the moment he arrived, he has been a difference maker. His grit, toughness, motivation, determination and football IQ will be sorely missed.
"Leighton also embodied the strong character and personal qualities that make him much more than an accomplished player. He was a leader and the kind of teammate that impacted those around him in the best ways. Leighton's playing career may have come to an end, but his future is very bright. On behalf of the entire Dallas Cowboys organization, we're proud that he wore the star on his helmet, we thank him and we wish all the best to Leighton, his wife, Madalynn, and their young daughter."