Ex-Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch’s father arrested for attempted strangulation

The father of a former Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch was arrested over the weekend for domestic violence-related charges. 

Darwin Vander Esch was arrested for felony attempted strangulation and cited for misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor intentional destruction of a telecommunication device, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office announced. 

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. 

Leighton Vander Esch, who retired earlier this year due to injury issues after six seasons in the NFL, has not publically commented on his father’s arrest.

The former Cowboys linebacker was a walk-on at Boise State and eventually became Dallas’ first-round pick in the 2018 draft. 

Over his six seasons, Leighton Vander Esch made 469 tackles, 3.5 sacks, forced three fumbles and made three interceptions. 

He was a Pro Bowler in 2018 as a rookie and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team that same year. 

Leighton Vander Esch dealt with neck injuries during the course of his career, missing seven games in 2018 and then missed time again last season because of an ailment in his neck. 

“I love the game of football so much, and my body won’t cooperate any longer,” Leighton Vander Esch said in a statement announcing his retirement. “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.” 

He wasn’t the only member of the family that had played football, his cousin Caleb Vander Esch played college football at South Dakota and played pro football for the Arlington Renegades of the UFL last season.