DEER LODGE, Montana – Former NFL Quarterback, Ryan Leaf addressed inmates at the Montana State Prison (MSP) on July 24, 2024, who are participating in the Last Mile program. This marked the first time the Great Falls native had returned to the prison since his own incarceration in 2014.
The Last Mile program equips prisoners with valuable skills in business and technology to better prepare them for re-entry into the workforce upon release. Introduced to the Montana State Prison in 2022, the program has provided participants with a sense of purpose behind bars.
“I was deep into fentanyl addiction during the lowest point of my life when I entered prison,” revealed Falcon Brown, an MSP inmate and Last Mile participant. “The Last Mile has given me a foundation to start learning important concepts and hopefully embark on a new chapter in life that doesn’t involve being behind bars when I eventually get out.”
Ryan Leaf served a two-year sentence at MSP from 2012 to 2014 for burglary and drug charges while residing in Great Falls. During his visit, Leaf shared his personal struggle with painkiller addiction and how he was able to turn his life around in prison by assisting others, offering the inmates hope for a successful future beyond incarceration.
“Hope is the greatest challenge when we re-enter society. It can be shattered by the simplest things,” Leaf expressed. “They’re simply seeking a glimmer of hope for their post-release life.”
Now sober and a family man, Leaf urged the inmates to take responsibility for their choices, drawing from his own experiences of hardship and redemption. His message resonated with the inmates, inspiring them to stay on the path of making positive choices in life.
“What truly inspires me is that this does not define me. My decision that landed me here five years ago does not dictate the end of my story, just as Ryan’s decision a decade ago did not define his life,” reflected Nicholas Parker, an MSP inmate and Last Mile student.
Leaf attended CMR High School in Great Falls and played quarterback at Washington State University from 1995 to 1997. He was selected second overall in the 1998 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, playing two seasons with the team before retiring as a member of the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2002 season.
