Leighton Vander Esch

“I think it's really important if you can get your mind off things when you have a break. It helps you in the long run.”

“You have to prove yourself every snap. Otherwise you ain't going to last long.”

“You've just got to relax yourself and go out and do what you do.”

“It's just fitting - there's a reason they call me The Wolf Hunter.”

“I want to be one of the best linebackers, if not the best linebacker, in the National Football League.”

“That's the biggest thing: You have to be consistent week in and week out. It doesn't matter what you did last week or the week before. None of that matters now, it's what do I do this week.”

“I mean, I think I'm probably going to get hurt more if I'm not playing hard.”

“I think that's one of the things I've always really prided myself on is just being a sure tackler.”

“Offenses are going to run what they're going to run, but they're just going to make it look a little bit different, they're just going to dress it up a little bit.”

“I say this with a heavy heart: I am medically retiring from the NFL.”

“Me having the same defensive coordinator in back-to-back seasons... I am only going to get better.”

“Obviously, I don't want to be stagnant in any area, so anywhere, any place I can get to grow, I'm going to try to do that.”

“Being able to open-field tackle when you are tired, and staying disciplined added to my instincts.”

“Well, I've been playing football my whole life.”

“You could pop on the film and say I wasn't in man coverage, but I was in man coverage quite a bit.”

“I've got pretty good athleticism, so I feel like no matter where they put me, I'm gonna get the job done and I'm gonna make sure I prepare myself for every chance I get.”

“If the ball is on the ground, I'm going to go get it.”

“Don't put things off. Don't just brush things off.”

“You have to prove yourself every year.”

“There's always pressure to perform.”