Ryan Leaf, Washington State
Ryan Leaf is synonymous with the term bust. After having a successful 1997 season at Washington State – 3,968 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions – Leaf was the second overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft by San Diego; behind some guy named Peyton Manning. But Leaf’s rookie season was one of the worst in NFL history. In nine games, he threw just two touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He missed the 1999 season due to a shoulder injury and didn’t look any better in 2000 or 2001 with Dallas.
Life after football was not easy for Leaf. He landed a coaching gig at West Texas A&M but was fired when it was discovered that he was asking players for pain pills. Unfortunately, his addiction eventually grew worse. In 2012, Leaf was sentenced to seven years in prison for burglary and drug possession charges. He’s since been released and now works as an ambassador for Transcend Recovery Communities. Leaf has also gotten back into football, being hired as a college football analyst by ESPN in 2019.