Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

NFL Stardom to Rock Bottom: Ryan Leaf on Redemption & Resilience


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What happens when everything you’ve built your identity around—your talent, your success, your career—comes crashing down?

Ryan Leaf’s story is one of the most dramatic arcs in professional sports. Once the No. 2 overall draft pick behind Peyton Manning, Ryan saw his NFL career unravel under the weight of expectations, addiction, and ultimately, prison. And here’s what makes his story powerful—he doesn’t run from it. He owns it. And he’s turned it into a mission to help others navigate mental health, shame, and resilience.

In this episode, we get real about the dangerous side of the “chip on your shoulder” mentality, how stigma kept Ryan from asking for help, and the moment that changed everything—when he stopped proving people wrong and started focusing on service.

If you want to dive into an episode about redefining success, resilience, and ultimately redemption, this conversation with Ryan Leaf is for you.

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Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael GervaisBy Dr. Michael Gervais

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