(Daily Mail)
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller has announced his retirement from the NFL at age 31.
In a YouTube video posted on Sunday, Waller shared that a health scare in November made him rethink his life. He described a “very scary situation” where he struggled to breathe and spent 3½ days in the hospital, unable to stand, use the restroom, or feed himself. He did not disclose the specific illness.
Reflecting on Career
“I come out of that experience and I’m sitting in the hospital, and I go back into my daily life and I’m like, ‘Pretty clear, I almost just lost my life, and I don’t know if I really feel if I would have died that I would have felt great about how my life was going if I died at that time.'”
Upon reflecting, he said he “found a lot of joy” and “had amazing moments” playing in the NFL “but the passion has slowly been fading,” leading to his retirement decision.
Gratitude for NFL Support
“Eternally grateful for the game of football. I wouldn’t be able to have this conversation or to think things through or be self-reflective if it wasn’t for an opportunity to save my life and go to rehab, which the NFL offered me,” he said. “They also gave me an opportunity to reestablish myself, to come back into the world and do something productive. Provide an example, be a leader, be a difference-maker in my craft but also in my day-to-day wherever I go.”
Waller has been open about his struggles with addiction and how rehab after a 2017 overdose helped turn his life around. He has used his story to inspire others.
Waller also posted snippets of his video on Instagram.
Giants’ Response and Financial Impact
“We have great respect for Darren as a person and player. We wish him nothing but the best,” the Giants said in a statement Sunday.
Waller had stayed away from the team this offseason while considering his future, missing out on a potential $200,000 workout bonus and a base salary of $10.525 million for the upcoming season. The Giants will save $11.9 million in cap space this year with Waller’s retirement as a post-June 1 cut.
Career Highlights
The Giants were expecting an answer from their mandatory minicamp, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will now move forward with Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, and fourth-round draft pick Theo Johnson as their top tight ends.
The Las Vegas Raiders traded Waller to New York for a third-round pick in March 2023. He had spent the previous five seasons with the Raiders, achieving two 1,000-yard receiving seasons and making the Pro Bowl in 2020 with 107 catches for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Baltimore Ravens drafted Waller as a wide receiver in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, and he struggled with substance abuse issues and faced multiple suspensions early in his career. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season and missed all of 2017. The Raiders signed him off the Ravens’ practice squad during the 2018 season, where he found success with a new outlook.
In his second season with the Raiders, Waller had 90 catches for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns, after having only 18 catches for 178 yards in his first four professional seasons. Over his nine-year career with the Ravens, Raiders, and Giants, he totaled 350 catches for 4,124 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Personal Life and Injuries
This offseason, Waller has been working on his music, releasing a new song last month. In an interview with The Athletic, he questioned his “commitment level” to football and seemed to lean toward retirement, which the Giants were aware of since January.
Waller and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum filed for divorce last month after being married for a year.
Waller’s recent football seasons were affected by injuries, particularly hamstring issues, causing him to miss many games. In his one season with the Giants, he finished with 52 catches for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games, leading the team in receiving. However, his season was cut short when he injured his right hamstring in late October, which sidelined him for five games.
This report used information from ESPN.
