The motivational and dedicated Ryan D Leaf is a former professional American football quarterback, who most famously played for the San Diego Chargers, and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. He is now a radio personality on SiriusXFM, a sports analyst for ESPN, and a keynote speaker. He also hosts Bust: The Ryan Leaf Story podcast. His sporting memoir, 596 Switch: The Improbable Journey from the Palouse to Pasadena, was published in 2011.
Born and raised in Great Falls, Montana, Leaf proved to be a natural on the American football field throughout his youth and helped his High School to the 1992 Montana State title. He attended Washington State University to study Humanities, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy after his junior year. He turned professional when he was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 1998 NFL draft, but his career was shortened due to poor play, bad behaviour, and injuries. After his NFL career ended, he returned to Washington State to complete his degree.
In 2010 Leaf began writing a regular column about Washington State University football for the website Cougfan.com, but he also had legal troubles involving drugs, and burglary. After a suspended sentence and a stint in drug rehabilitation, he began serving a seven-year sentence in State prison in December 2012. He was released on December 3, 2014, and dedicated himself to turning his life around. He started the Focus Intensity Foundation, which raises money for scholarships for people who can’t afford mental health treatment, and he began working as a Programme Ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community, a group of sober living houses in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. In 2019 he was hired by ESPN as an analyst, and he has also appeared as an NFL analyst on Sky Sports in the UK during the 2021 season.
Leaf regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Instagram, and Twitter, posting pictures and videos about his life around family and American football. He is also available for that personalised shout-out via the Cameo platform.