After days of speculation, New York Giants tight end Darren Waller has decided to retire from the game of football. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was among the first to announce the news.
Waller informed the team on Sunday.
Sources: #Giants TE Darren Waller has informed the team he plans to retire, walking away at the age of 31 after just one season with NYG.
Waller hasn’t attended workouts, and the team had known for some time he may not play. Now, he’s officially let them know before minicamp. pic.twitter.com/1ZTmj1VX2m
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2024
The 31-year-old had been contemplating retirement this offseason, and after not attending workouts, he informed the team of his decision. Waller played in the NFL for nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants.
Waller was due to make $10.5 million in 2024, and he would count $14.1 million against the salary cap. Now that he called it quits, the Giants will gain $11.6 million in cap space after the transaction.
Waller was traded to the Giants last offseason for a compensatory 2023 third-round pick. On Thursday, Giants head coach Brian Daboll gave some insight into his potential decision, saying, “When he makes his decision, he makes his decision.”
The Giants were preparing for if worse came to worse, signing veteran tight ends Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz. They also drafted tight end Theo Johnson from Penn State in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The former Por Bolwer started his career with the Ravens after being selected in the sixth round with the 204 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. After four years with the Ravens, he signed with the Raiders off the Ravens’ practice squad. He spent another four-plus seasons with the Raiders, and his best season came in 2020, racking up 107 receptions, fourth in the NFL, and first among tight ends. He ranked tenth overall in yardage and second among tight ends.
At the start of the 2022 season, Waller signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Raiders that made him the highest-paid tight end in the league. However, he was limited in 2022 due to a nagging hamstring injury. Then came the trade to the Giants last March, and his lone season in New York was rather underwhelming. Waller played in 12 games, started in 11, and recorded 52 receptions for 552 yards, one touchdown, and averaged 10.6 yards per reception. He was limited to 12 games due to a hamstring injury, the same one that kept him off the gridiron in 2021 and ’22.
The Maryland native didn’t have a Hall of Fame-type career but was effective when available. In his nine-year career, he recorded 350 receptions for 4,124 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11.8 yards per reception, and a catch percentage of 69.9 in 86 games and 63 starts.
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