From Idaho to Texas and Back, Leighton Vander Esch Shares His Story with Oregon
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, March 31st, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – It’s not every day that an NFL star makes the trek to Eastern Oregon. On Wednesday afternoon, however, No. 55 middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys Leighton Vander Esch (LVE) made a special visit to Outdoors RV. An Idaho native with his roots in the rural Northwest, Vander Esch was invited to share his story and provide some motivational words to the Outdoors employees. Elkhorn Media Group’s Garrett Christensen (GC) had the chance to speak directly with Vander Esch. The transcript is as follows:
(GC) “Some folks might be wondering, why did you come out to Eastern Oregon to give this talk?”
(LVE) “It all started my rookie year. Our first off season, we didn’t really want to buy, my wife and I were engaged at the time, we didn’t really want to necessarily buy a house right off the bat. That led us to Outdoors RV and we actually bought one and stayed in that our first off season. That was kind of the start of everything with them and the brand. Obviously with my background and living in the mountains and everything it was perfect for whenever we did buy a house because we were still going to use it a lot.”
(GC) “And you’re originally from Riggins Idaho. How does Union County compare to home?”
(LVE) “It’s a little bit more flat. There’s mountains around but it’s pretty out here. I’m not too familiar with Oregon as much anymore. But, I just love the northwest, this whole area, all the mountains, the green and the lakes and the water and the fresh air. There’s nothing better than that.”
(GC) “How does it feel to be back in the rural Northwest again?”
(LVE) “That’s what’s special and that’s what I like to do at least a couple of times during the off season is come back and get some fresh air and decompress. Just get back home and enjoy the scenery and just relax for a few days and get away from all the hustle and bustle from the city and see family.”
(GC) “You still have family up here?”
(LVE) “Yes, my wife and I grew up in Idaho so both our families are still there. My family and her family both live in Riggins so it’s convenient for us. When we want to go home, we get to see everybody, so it works out.”
(GC) “Briefly shifting, how has it been playing for the cowboys professionally?
(LVE) “Really, it’s just been a dream come true and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone already, five years. It’s still surreal to me at this moment because I feel like it’s taken so much work to get to where I am now but I’m living out my childhood dream of playing professional sports and making a career out of it. I absolutely love what I’m doing, and I have no complaints. I don’t wake up in the morning ever having a bad day really.”
(GC) “And What would you say has been your favorite or most memorable experience in the NFL so far?”
(LVE) “There’s not one specific memory or anything, but experience I think, just the guys you get to play against. Like some of them that you grew up watching like Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, Bobby Wagner, those guys that you looked up to as an athlete when you were young, actually being able to play against them and sometimes with them, it’s a crazy feeling.”
(GC) “As you mentioned earlier, this is a dream come true for you. For a lot of young athletes around here, your position is most certainly a dream as well. Anything you’d like to say to potentially up and coming athletes from Eastern Oregon?”
(LVE) “One thing I’d say, the chip on my shoulder I’ve carried with me my whole life, is never let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. There’s going to be a lot of critics in your life, there’s going to be a lot of people that don’t want to see you succeed, but don’t let someone kill your dream or shoot down your dream before you even get it started. Depending on what age you are, what goals you have in mind, dreams you have in mind, aspirations, it doesn’t matter what it is, if you want to go do that, go do that and do it to your best ability.”
(GC) “And doubling back a little bit, how does it feel to know that you’re here to inspire everyone else?”
(LVE) “It is definitely an honor, that is for sure. I just think about growing up when I was young and the role models, the people I looked up to and now being in this position and the journey that I’ve been on, looking back and reminiscing over everything…It’s a lot to think about at certain times but it’s also…I feel so blessed to be in this position now and to be able to affect and inspire other people’s lives the way I was inspired when I was young and looking up to the goals that I had.”
(GC) “Anything else you’d like to share or add?”
(LVE) “I think that’s good.”
As for Vender Esch’s talk with Outdoors staff, there were plenty of stories, and a few laughs, to share. Consistent themes of those stories, however, were determination, focusing on one’s dreams and overcoming any obstacles life may throw at you, be they feelings of self-doubt or a 300lb linebacker who could quite literally throw you a significant distance.
Vander Esch would eventually overcome plenty of both, but the start to his story is somewhat humble if not relatable to East Oregonians. Vander Esch grew up in Riggins Idaho, where he would also meet his now wife, and graduated high school in 2014 in a class of 11 students. According to his own description, the class consisted of exactly 9 boys and 2 girls and never changed.
During his time in Riggins, he learned both the value of the outdoors and the ability to stay focused on one’s own goals despite the naysayers, remarking, “I had so many people tell me growing up, you’re probably going to need a change of plans because it’s not going to work out for you.”
Through a combination of self-improvement, belief in his own dreams and the support of those around him, including his older sisters, all of whom were college athletes themselves, Vander Esch never really stopped. One day he was called into the principal’s office and told that someone from Boise State wanted to talk to him. He would go on to earn a full football scholarship within six months of starting college and joined the cowboys as a first draft pick his senior year. “That was the biggest dream of a high school football player…when I saw that, I thought there is no way this is happening,” he noted.
The pattern continued to repeat itself throughout every subsequent step of his career, albeit by his own admission the later steps generally involved getting hit much harder, describing one particular moment in training after being hit square in the chest by Tyron Smith:
“No one told me he always did that. I swear he stopped my heart. I’m leaning over trying to catch my breath and looking at him like ‘what are you doing dude,’ and he’s just laughing at me.’”
Jokes aside, figures like Tyron are what helped drive him in one way or another. Vander Esch, though a star athlete, didn’t focus too much on his time with the cowboys, instead describing what made the dream possible and the people that made it possible. Friends, family, coaches, teammates, even opponents were all part of the journey. Belief in himself, belief in him from others and a seemingly unyielding work ethic carried the small-town football player all the way to Texas and then all the way back to the Northwest.
Before wrapping up, Vander Esh also had the opportunity to answer some audience questions. Some of the highlights and a summary of his answers are below:
Q: What’s your favorite football team?
A: “I think you know the answer.”
Q: What are you planning to do after football?
A: Considering getting into building mini-boats or custom side by sides
Q: Are you planning on staying in Texas after football?
A: Plans to travel back and forth between Texas and Idaho
Q: Did you get to meet a lot of the older players?
A: Texas is a “melting pot for older players.” Some highlights include Tony Romo and Barry sanders.
Q: Best quarterback you’ve ever played against?
A: Drew Brees or Tom Brady
Q: Does your family get to see you play much?
A: Every home game usually has some family members (either his or his wife’s) come watch while the whole family tries to make 2-3 games a year.
