Big news in the football world as Darren Waller, once a New York Giants tight end, has announced his retirement from the sport. The story was first reported by Ian Rapoport from NFL Network.
According to sources, #Giants TE Darren Waller has let NYG know about his retirement plans at the end of this season. The 31-year-old is hanging up his boots after one season.
Waller hasn’t been showing up for team workouts and has been advised to take some time off. He communicated his decisions to the team before minicamp. pic.com/1ZTmj1VX2m
During the off-season, Waller had been contemplating retirement, and he made his intentions clear by missing training sessions. Waller had a successful NFL career spanning from 1999 to 2005, playing for the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and the New York Giants.
Waller was expected to earn $10.5 million by 2024, with a possible salary cap hit of $14.1 million. With his retirement, the Giants now have an additional $11.6 million in salary cap space.
Waller, a former Giant, had suffered an injury in 2016 while with another team. He was later acquired by the Giants in a trade deal that included a 2023 third-round draft pick. Coach Brian Daboll hinted at Waller’s autonomous decision-making, stating, “When [Waller] does what he chooses.”
To fill the gap left by Waller’s retirement, the Giants have signed veteran tight ends Chris Manhertz and Jack Stoll. Additionally, they drafted Penn State tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Initially selected by the Ravens as a sixth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Waller, a Georgia Tech alumnus, excelled during his time in the league. He later joined the Raiders and had a standout season in 2020, finishing as the fourth-best tight end in receptions and the tenth in yardage in the NFL.
Regarded as the highest-paid tight end in the league, Waller signed a lucrative contract extension with the Raiders in 2022. However, a hamstring injury hampered his 2022 performance, leading to his transfer to the Giants in March of the same year. While his first season with the Giants was decent, he faced challenges with injuries, playing only 11 out of 12 games and posting modest stats.
Maryland native Michael Smith, though not a household name, had a successful 9-year NFL career, accumulating impressive stats of 35 receptions, 4,124 yards, and 20 touchdowns. With a solid 11.8 yards per reception average and a catch rate of 69.9% in 86 games, Smith made his mark on the field.