Ryan Leaf Confronts Former Chargers Doctor at Super Bowl

Leaf calls Dr. David Chao a 'despicable person' after heated exchange on radio row

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:55pm

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Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf got into a heated confrontation with ex-Chargers team doctor Dr. David Chao at the Super Bowl. Leaf accused Chao of being a 'despicable person' and compared him to other controversial doctors associated with figures like Jim Irsay and Matthew Perry. Leaf refused to speak with Chao further, saying he didn't want a public discussion and instead wanted a private conversation.

Why it matters

The altercation between Leaf and Chao highlights the lingering tensions and distrust some former players have towards team doctors, especially in light of recent controversies involving other high-profile doctors. Leaf's strong words reflect a broader skepticism about the medical profession and the perceived lack of accountability for doctors who may have acted unethically or caused harm to players.

The details

According to reports, Leaf approached Chao, who was speaking with someone else on radio row at the Super Bowl. Leaf then got 'in Chao's face' and the conversation 'got very aggressive,' with Leaf reportedly telling Chao 'f*** you.' Leaf later explained on the 'Hot Mic' podcast that he views Chao as a 'despicable person' and doesn't want to have any further discussions with him, even refusing Chao's suggestion to talk about it on another podcast.

  • The confrontation between Leaf and Chao occurred on radio row at the 2026 Super Bowl.

The players

Ryan Leaf

A former NFL quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers from 1998-2000, during which time Dr. David Chao was the team's doctor.

Dr. David Chao

The former team doctor for the San Diego Chargers, who worked with Ryan Leaf during his time with the organization.

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What they’re saying

“Ryan Leaf has got a bone to pick with everybody. He goes on Twitter and he just tries to rattle cages. He comes over and before you know it, he is in Dr. David Chao's face. In his face!”

— Scott Kaplan, Sports broadcaster and media personality (Kaplan and Crew)

“I just think he's a despicable person. And that's hard for me who looks at everybody with a real glass half-full thing. I just think he is just... after all the things we've seen now, right? You know, we talk about doctors and vaccines and all the nonsense that you don't believe in the moment. Like, how could somebody who was a doctor and his friend do something that would damage somebody that way?”

— Ryan Leaf (Hot Mic)

What’s next

It is unclear if Leaf and Chao will have any further public confrontations or discussions about their past disagreements.

The takeaway

The heated exchange between Leaf and Chao reflects the lingering distrust and skepticism that some former players have towards team doctors, especially in light of recent high-profile controversies involving doctors and their treatment of athletes. This incident highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in the medical care provided to professional sports players.