Retired NFL player Leighton Vander Esch has been married to his wife, Madalynn Vander Esch, since 16 July 2019. The couple first met while attending the same high school.
The Vander Esch pair welcomed their first child, a baby girl, Navy Grace Vander Esch, on 8 January 2024.
Highlights
- Leighton and Madalynn Vander Esch are high school sweethearts. They attended Salmon River High School and Boise State University together.
- Madalynn Vander Esch, formerly Madalynn Tucker, is a professional rodeo horse rider.
- The professional rodeo rider hails from Riggins, Idaho to her parents, Levi and Abigail Tucker. She has two siblings.
Madalynn and Leighton Vander Esch’s love story began at Salmon River High School in Riggins, Idaho.
They both hail from the same small town and completed their formal education at the same high school.
The smitten pair bonded over their shared involvement in the school’s basketball team.
After graduating from Salmon River HS, they both attended Boise State University in Idaho together. It has been reported that the lovebirds began dating during their college years.
A year after graduating from college, the retired football player got on one knee and proposed to his lady love on 5 July 2018.
Moreover, the Vander Esch couple tied the knot on 16 July 2019, in a beautiful wedding ceremony surrounded by family and friends.
Maddy and Leighton often share glimpses of their life together on social media. Maddy is a familiar face at Dallas Cowboys home games.
Madalynn Vander Esch Is A Professional Rodeo Horse Rider
Born Madalynn Tucker, Madalynn Vander Esch is a native of Riggins, Idaho. She was born to her parents, Abigail and Levi Tucker.
The former NFL linebacker’s wife is the eldest of three children born to her parents. She has two younger siblings – brother, Jimmy Tucker and sister, Audrey Faith Tucker.
While attending high school and college, Maddy was involved in sports, particularly basketball. After graduating, she pursued her passion for horse riding and became a professional rodeo horse rider.
She competes in barrel racing events and has achieved some success and won the 2022 OKC Amateur Derby Championship with her horse, Dame Ta Fame.
In addition to being an accomplished rodeo horse rider, Madalynn is a loving wife and doting mother.
After retiring, the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker gushed about his wife in a letter, saying that she had been a rock through his rough patches.
“No one has felt the daily grind more than my loving and extremely supportive wife, Madalynn.”
Leighton Vander Esch
He wrote that his spouse has been with him throughout his entire career and was completely dedicated to helping him become his absolute best, on and off the field.
Leighton added that he couldn’t have been on this journey in the NFL without Madalynn.
The Vander Esch Couple Share One Daughter
Five years after getting married, the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker and his spouse welcomed their first child, Navy Grace Vander Esch, on 8 January 2024.
They announced their pregnancy on 30 June 2023, writing, “We are excited to announce baby Vander Esch due 4 January 2024.”
While sharing the first picture of their precious girl, Madalynn and Leighton wrote in a joint Instagram post,
💗Navy Grace Vander Esch💗 Born January 8, 2024. She is the most perfect blessing we have ever received & was well worth the wait to meet her. Her daddy and I are head over heels. We love you so much Navy🥲”
Madalynn and Leighton Vander Esch
The former NFL player thanked his wife for making motherhood look easy.
He said he’s forever grateful and blessed to have her. He also mentioned that player wives don’t get enough credit.
In her Instagram post, Madalynn celebrated Leighton’s retirement by saying she felt “honored” to have watched his career unfold.
She expressed how proud she is to be his wife and talked about the ups and downs of his football journey, including his first career touchdown right before a serious injury.
Additional Information
- The father of Leighton Vander Esch, Darwin Vander Esch, was arrested in Idaho for felony attempted strangulation and other charges and is currently in custody with no bond.
- According to Spotrac, Vander Esch’s total career earnings are $18,078,718.
- He was active in the league from 2018 to 2023.
- Leighton retired from football primarily due to persistent neck issues. He had been dealing with neck injuries throughout his career.
