Darren Waller’s Football Journey: From Giants to Dolphins
In 2023, the Las Vegas Raiders traded tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants, sparking excitement about his potential impact. However, his season didn’t quite go as planned. Waller managed just one touchdown over 12 games and faced numerous injuries. Ultimately, he opted to step away from the NFL after a single year with the Giants.
The Giants finished the 2023 season with a lackluster record of 6 wins and 11 losses, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Waller’s performance in 2023 may not have been dominant, leading to his retirement announcement. In a social media post, he stated, “I have decided to retire from competitive football. God, it’s been such an amazing journey. Thank you so much. We’ve traveled further than we ever imagined! I love you all. peace.”
After sitting out the 2024 season, Waller made a comeback in 2025 with the Miami Dolphins. At 33, he showcased a resurgence, scoring four receiving touchdowns in just three games.
During a recent appearance on the “Shultz Report” podcast, he reflected on his brief retirement, saying, “There were other things I went through…that made me feel like I needed to retire, and I think it was a wise decision.”
Waller also expressed disappointment regarding his role on the Giants, suggesting their coaching staff didn’t leverage his skills effectively. “I do the dirty stuff—and any good teammate should do that. But I don’t feel like I was put in a position to shine,” he mentioned. He felt underutilized, performing tasks more in line with a fullback rather than a tight end—“I was filling the B gap, hitting linebackers, running stick routes. That doesn’t get the best out of me.”
The Giants maintained rights to Waller’s contract, even after his retirement. The Dolphins traded a sixth-round pick in 2026 to New York for Waller and another late pick.
The Dolphins, however, have struggled recently, heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Cleveland Browns with a record of 1-5 after two consecutive losses.
