Sports News Report
Sport: American FootballCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Ryan Leaf credits Nick Saban for guiding his recovery journey

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 18, 2026, 8:25 AM

Last updated Sep 18, 2026

Ryan Leaf credits Nick Saban for guiding his recovery journey
Summary

Ryan Leaf's life took a pivotal turn after Nick Saban invited him to speak to the Alabama football team. Once considered a major NFL draft bust, Leaf experienced significant struggles with addiction and spent over two years in prison. Since his release in 2014, he has utilized his story to advocate for substance abuse awareness, reaching numerous football and sports programs nationwide. Leaf emphasized the importance of sharing personal struggles to connect with young athletes. His relationship with Saban has fostered further collaboration on opioid misuse awareness efforts, particularly in West Virginia.

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Yahoo Sports
By the Numbers
  • •Leaf faced addiction and prison before rebuilding his life.
  • •Saban invited Leaf to speak to Alabama's football team.
  • •Leaf has spoken to 79 football programs and other sports teams.
  • •He advocates for mental health and substance-use disorder.
  • •Leaf now serves as lead analyst for Pac-12 football broadcasts.
Latest Updates
  • 8:25 AMYahoo Sports — How Nick Saban helped Ryan Leaf rebuild his life after prison and addiction
What they're saying
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Ryan Leaf's comeback story took an unexpected turn when Nick Saban reached out with an opportunity that changed everything.

Related Teams & Leagues
American Football

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