Darren Waller, the esteemed NFL tight end, has announced his retirement from professional football. The 31-year-old informed the New York Giants, his current team, of his decision, as confirmed by CBS Sports. Waller’s career, marked by both remarkable comebacks and personal challenges, saw him play for the Baltimore Ravens, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and one season with the Giants.
The Giants expressed their admiration and best wishes for Waller, stating, "We have great respect for Darren as a person and player. We wish him nothing but the best."
Waller detailed the pivotal reason behind his retirement in a heartfelt YouTube video. He recounted a severe illness in November that left him battling high fever, uncontrollable shaking, and breathing difficulties, resulting in a three-and-a-half-day hospital stay. Reflecting on this life-threatening experience, Waller said, "I almost just lost my life, and I don't know if I really feel like if I would have died, that I would have felt great about how my life was going. It's kind of forced me into a position to reevaluate, you know? I've made the decision that I'll be retiring from the NFL."
Waller’s journey in the NFL began as a sixth-round pick by the Ravens in the 2015 Draft. His early career was tumultuous, marked by struggles with drug addiction that led to his suspension for the entire 2017 season due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. "I didn't really have a lot of value for myself," Waller reflected on that difficult period. "I was like, I know I need to change. But changing seemed so hard at the time, and I wasn't willing to do the work."
Determined to turn his life around, Waller entered rehab and briefly worked in a grocery store before making a triumphant return to the NFL. His most notable achievements came during a five-year tenure with the Raiders, where he excelled, particularly in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards each year and earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2020.
Off the field, Waller's personal life also garnered attention. His whirlwind romance with Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum culminated in marriage in 2023, only for the couple to file for divorce the following April. Plum, visibly emotional, shared her feelings on social media, writing, "I walked through fire for that man, but now I see it's time to go."
In addition to his football career, Waller has pursued various artistic endeavors, drawing from his family’s rich musical legacy—his great-grandfather was the famous jazz composer Thomas "Fats" Waller. Recently, he released a music video titled "Who Knew (Her Perspective)," which depicts themes of betrayal and emotional turmoil, possibly reflecting his own experiences.
Waller emphasized his multifaceted interests and need for diverse forms of expression in his retirement announcement, saying, "I'm somebody that will always have multiple passions, multiple ways of expressing myself. And it's very common for me to outgrow certain passions. The worst possible thing for a manifesting generator, somebody like me, would be to think that I am supposed to choose one lane of life, one path, and stick with it like most of the world does."
As Darren Waller transitions away from football, he leaves behind a legacy of resilience and versatility, ready to embark on new paths and continue his journey of personal and artistic exploration.
Comments