Lacey Leonard, the wife of wheelchair-bound NFL journeyman Louis Leonard, has a warning for all aspiring WAGs.
Ex-NFL WAG says not to 'romanticize' the life originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
An NFL WAG is pushing back on the glossy image often associated with professional football, offering a blunt look at what life can be like long after the stadium lights dim.
In a recent Instagram Reel, Lacey Leonard shared footage of her husband, former NFL defensive tackle Louis Leonard, navigating a hospital corridor in a wheelchair. The post quickly resonated with fans and former players alike for its unfiltered message.
MORE: Michael Jordan tried to talk his son out of being 'the next MJ' in newly resurfaced interview
“My husband survived the NFL, but now he’s surviving everything it left behind,” Lacey wrote. As the video rolled, she described the daily physical challenges Leonard faces, adding, “People see the glory, the lights, the crowds, but they don’t see this — the aftermath.”
Her message was simple and pointed: “Don’t romanticize this life. The real work happens after the game is long over.”
Leonard, now 41, played in the league from 2007 to 2010, suiting up for six teams during a journeyman career that totaled 33 tackles. He and Lacey met as freshmen at Fresno State University and share two children. After divorcing in 2012, they remarried in 2018.
Lacey has been open about the couple’s current reality, which includes frequent physical therapy sessions at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. “This is our reality,” she said in another post. “A warrior learning to move again, step-by-step.”
In October 2025, Lacey revealed that Louis is battling Parkinson’s disease along with stage-4 kidney disease. She has also spoken candidly about the logistical challenges former players can face once league benefits expire. “The NFL only provides five years of health coverage — then a cliff,” she wrote in a separate Reel, noting that certain therapies had been denied despite physician recommendations.
Support poured in from across the sports world. Hall of Famer Terrell Owens commented, “People just don’t know!!!!” Former linebacker and actor Terry Crews added, “Amen.”
Beyond social media, Lacey is involved with the Off the Field Players' Wives Association, a group that supports families of both active and retired players.
MORE: ESPN analyst claps back at Cardi B's roasting: 'An honor & privilege'
For Lacey, sharing their story is about visibility and connection. “The outfits and the noise fade,” she wrote. “The paperwork and the pain don’t.”
Category: General Sports
