Ryan Leaf’s latest run-in with the law saw the ESPN college football analyst and former NFL quarterback arrested Friday and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery charge in Palm Desert, California, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s department.
Police only referred to the alleged victim as a spouse, former spouse, fiancee, dating partner or co-parent.
The 44-year-old Leaf was being held on $5,000 bail as of Saturday morning, and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Leaf is considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history after being selected No. 2 following Peyton Manning in the 1998 draft. He has often found himself in trouble since his career flamed out in 2001 after four seasons, in which he made just under $13 million, with the Chargers and Cowboys.
Leaf then began self-medicating with Vicodin and in 2009 was sentenced to 10 years of probation and fined $20,000 after facing drug and burglary charges in Texas.
Leaf then spent two years in prison in 2012 after breaking into a Montana home to steal prescription drugs, which was in violation of his Texas probation order.
A year later, Leaf was found guilty of “behavior that violated conditions of his drug treatment placement,” which included accusations of threatening a program staff member at the rehabilitation center. Leaf was sentenced to five years in prison but was released seven months later.
The former Washington State star has since worked to rebuild his reputation, and his road to recovery culminated in an ESPN gig ahead of the 2019 college football season.
Before his first TV appearance with ESPN, Leaf tweeted, “How’s this for a story…2nd Pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Crash & Burn so bad many consider the biggest draft bust ever, goes to prison, chooses to get back up and carry on. 6 years later, employed by @espn living the dream and cohosting #nfllive for the 1st time today! #soberlife.”
Leaf, who was listed by police as 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, has been engaged to Anna Kleinsorge, a former Georgetown volleyball player, since 2017 and they have one child together. Leaf previously was married to Nicole Licia, a former Chargers cheerleader, but the two separated in 2003 and later divorced.