It’s been a whirlwind year for Darren Waller.
The former NFL tight end had been considering retirement while filing for divorce from WNBA star Kelsey Plum, and he made the decision to retire shortly after the divorce was finalized.
Waller said both were equally difficult and took a huge emotional toll.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Darren Waller of the New York Giants runs onto the field before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Savitas/Getty Images)
“They’re both parts of me and they both meant a lot to me at the time, and when both of those things happen at the same time, it’s a lot of emotions to process,” Waller said on Power 105.1’s “The Breakfast Club.” Charlemagne the God“I spent a lot of time alone talking, writing a lot, thinking a lot.
“It’s real. I’ve had a lot of success and amazing moments in my life, but this year has forced me to look deep, dig deep and express myself in ways I normally don’t. Who would Darren Waller be without all the things I reach for, for achievement and validation?”
“You either have to be honest or you die lying to yourself,” Waller said.
“You have to look within yourself and say, ‘What role did I play in making sure the relationships in my life have always been the same?'” Waller says. “Whenever you’re in a relationship, you feel like you have to dance or do something to keep that person by your side, as if you’re tying your self-worth to the success of the relationship. And then you realize how much of yourself you’re missing by doing the things you love and that make you feel good about yourself every day.”
“How unhealthy it is for everyone involved to treat this person like the center of your world. Recognizing that, realizing the impact it has on me, and making authentic decisions for the life I want, these were things I wasn’t 100% sure I could say yes to. We had certain conversations and realized we still had a lot of life ahead of us. Maybe it’s better to just go ahead and live it and move forward without any animosity.”
Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces reacts with her husband Darren Waller after defeating the New York Liberty in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 18, 2023 in New York City. (Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
Grandmother of former NFL player’s missing child speaks out amid investigation, worries teen is being ‘brainwashed’
“I [had that conversation with myself]”But there were situations where I didn’t realize that,” he added. “The same things were happening in other parts of my life, and I thought I was ready to commit and be involved in those things. But there was also a part of me that really thought it was more appealing to pursue and chase and build than for things to get super difficult and for the same patterns to continue. At the end of the day, if you don’t heal, the same things are going to keep happening.”
A month after her divorce, Waller released the song “Who Knew (Her Perspective).”
“Creative writing has always been a mirror for me to grow and heal, so I’m sharing with you a song I wrote for myself,” Waller wrote in an Instagram post announcing the track.
Waller has always made music, but says he might be able to take it a little more seriously now that his footballing days are over.
“I feel like in a way, there’s something that’s pulling me spiritually in that direction. I don’t have any expectations about it, but I believe in myself and my growth as an artist and the work that I’m going to put out, so it’s definitely something that I want to make time for, among a lot of other things,” he said.
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller after a game against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Brad Penner – USA Today Sports)
Click here to get the FOX News app
Waller was an All-Pro tight end with the Raiders before spending his final season with the Giants.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage,subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
