Ryan Leaf Credits Matthew Perry For Helping With Sobriety

Ex-NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf believes he would not be the place he’s as we speak if it weren’t for Matthew Perry … crediting the late “Friends” star with enjoying a pivotal function in his sobriety.

Leaf — who’s approaching 12 years clear after battling drug and alcohol habit previously — poured his coronary heart out about his pal on his “Straight Line” podcast with PointsBet this week … simply days after 54-year-old Perry was found dead at his L.A.-area dwelling.

The previous No. 2-overall decide kicked off his tribute by stating Perry was “instrumental in my recovery” … earlier than going into element about how the actor provided his help with out hesitation over a decade in the past.

“I got out of prison and when I got to Los Angeles, Matt put his arm around me immediately,” Leaf stated. “And he carried me for like, the first six months probably in Los Angeles, trying to learn how to be a sober person really in a public platform.”

“I don’t know if I’m here right now, being able to do stuff like this — or anything — if it weren’t for him, and him sharing his story and making me understand that you can be a guy in the public eye that everyone knows and still be sober, be humble and be about helping other people.”

Leaf defined at the same time as Perry dealt along with his personal drug, alcohol and psychological well being points through the years, he did not ever depart his facet and continued to help within the athlete’s sobriety.

The 47-year-old stated his takeaway from the tragedy is Perry was a lot greater than a TV star — he was a man who wished to assist others, and that is how he’ll keep in mind him.

“There’s a lot of people that I owe for the life I now have, get to live … and he’s certainly at the top of that,” Leaf stated.