NFL Draft bust Ryan Leaf helped Justin Hartley and shared his story with the This Is Us writers

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Hartley credits Leaf, the No. 2 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft after Peyton Manning, with helping the writers craft their storyline about addiction. The former NFL quarterback is considered one of the worst-ever NFL Draft picks, lasting only a few years in the NFL. His downfall continued after football, with his addiction to pills resulted in him serving prison time after committing several burglaries. Leaf is now using his life story as a cautionary tale, sharing his experiences with the This Is Us writers' room. Hartley said he "had such an impact on that room of genius writers."