Leighton Vander Esch’s NFL career has had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. The Cowboys’ first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, his career started off with a bang. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound LB from Boise State was a tackling machine. With an abnormally long reach and vice grips for hands, he racked up 102 solo tackles at an impressively low 6.7% missed tackle rate (MTkl%).

His sophomore season saw regression. Injuries began to take their toll and over the next two campaigns Vander Esch missed a combined 13 regular season games. When he did play, he wasn’t his usual dominant self. His MTkl% ballooned to 15.3% and 16.7%, respectively. But just when the Cowboys rookie Pro Bowler started to look like a bust, Vander Esch bounced back.

His 2021 season saw a resurgence in his game, which continued to grow in 2022 when he posted the best MTkl percentage of his career (3.2%).

He again became an integral part of the Cowboys defense and was a priority free agency signing for the team that drafted him. Now Vander Esch heads into the 2023 season as one of the most important pieces of the defense, on and off the field.

In a linebacker room loaded with youth, the 27-year-old is the senior member and undisputed leader. Given his struggles in 2019 and 2020, he’s a redemption story as well — capable of inspiring other players who, for whatever reason, have fallen from grace and strive to change the narrative of their careers.

His importance in Dallas is unquestionable. The Cowboys enter the 2023 season with more questions than answers at the position. Vander Esch isn’t just the oldest of the bunch, but he’s the only truly proven commodity.

Damone Clark, the expected starter alongside him, has had his own obstacle to overcome. The LB out of LSU endured spinal fusion surgery prior to his rookie year. Many questioned his ability to even play in the NFL, let alone become an impact LB. But like Vander Esch, Clark proved doubters wrong.

Jabril Cox, another former LSU LB, has had his own injury situations. The third-year player has only been able to contribute 45 career snaps on defense for the Cowboys and is facing his own “bust” label in 2023.

Like the other two, Cox is now healthy and ready to put all the lows behind him. As one of the best coverage prospects in the 2020 draft, Cox has the ability to fulfill his potential and become the next redemption story.

One could argue the identity of the Cowboys entire linebacker room is redemption. The top players have either overcome significant obstacles or are in the process of overcoming obstacles. Even reserve LB Devin Harper landed on injured reserve in his only NFL season.

Vander Esch’s ability to overcome injuries should be inspiring for the entire position group. It’s a unit with adversity sewn into its DNA.