The mother of retired Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch has taken legal steps to end her marriage following a disturbing domestic violence incident. According to recently revealed court documents, Sandra “Sandy” Vander Esch filed for divorce from her husband, Darwin Vander Esch, the day after he allegedly strangled her at their Idaho home.
The incident reportedly took place in the early hours of December 1. Per documents obtained by TMZ, the couple had been arguing at a bar earlier in the evening.
After returning home, the disagreement escalated. Sandy alleges that Darwin physically assaulted her—placing his hands around her neck for approximately 10–15 seconds, pushing and squeezing until she managed to break free. The police report also details that Sandy was pushed to the ground during the altercation and subsequently locked out of their residence.
Local authorities responded to the domestic battery call and arrested Darwin for felony attempted strangulation, misdemeanor domestic battery, and intentional destruction of a telecommunication device (presumably to prevent Sandy from calling for help).
Darwin Vander Esch was subsequently released on a $10,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges, but no plea has been entered yet on the felony strangulation charge.
In the wake of this altercation, Sandra Vander Esch filed for divorce on December 2, just one day after the alleged incident. Darwin, for his part, has denied strangling his wife, though the legal proceedings are ongoing, and he now faces serious accusations as the case moves forward.
Leighton Vander Esch, the couple’s son, is a former first-round draft pick who played linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys from 2018 to 2023. A Pro Bowl selection as a rookie, Leighton showed immense potential early in his career.
However, recurrent neck injuries limited his effectiveness and availability, culminating in a final neck issue in 2023 that ended his season after five games. The 27-year-old player announced his retirement from professional football earlier this year.
As of now, Leighton Vander Esch has not publicly commented on the alleged domestic violence incident involving his father. His verified Instagram account remains private, though it’s unclear when he chose to restrict public access to his social media profile.
The shocking nature of these allegations—combined with the swift legal action taken by Sandy—adds another difficult chapter to the Vander Esch family narrative.
While Leighton’s career and reputation within the NFL community remain positive, the family’s private turmoil now stands in stark contrast to the public support and admiration he once enjoyed from fans, teammates, and coaches alike.
