Darwin Vander Esch, father of retired Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, was taken into custody in Idaho early Sunday morning on domestic violence charges. The 61-year-old faces a felony attempted strangulation charge, along with misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and destruction of a communication device, according to Idaho County Sheriff’s Office records.

Details surrounding the incident remain scarce. This arrest comes months after Leighton Vander Esch announced his retirement from professional football due to recurring neck injuries. The 28-year-old's career was significantly impacted by these injuries, leading to multiple shortened seasons.

Leighton Vander Esch, a first-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 2018, suffered a season-ending neck injury during a game against the San Francisco 49ers last season. This marked the third time in his six-year NFL career that he played ten games or fewer. In a statement earlier this year, Vander Esch expressed his love for the game but acknowledged his physical limitations, emphasizing his commitment to family.

His neck troubles began in his second season, forcing him to miss the final weeks. Similar issues resurfaced in 2020 and 2023, though he managed a brief return for the playoffs in the latter year.