Ex-Giants, Raiders TE Darren Waller announces retirement after eight NFL seasons

It is an unceremonious finish to what was a beautiful story written by the 31-year-old.

An inspirational story having overcome a battle with drug habit, Waller started his NFL profession with the Ravens as a 2015 sixth-round choose earlier than a number of suspensions for violation of the league’s substance abuse coverage. Nevertheless, he triumphantly returned, changing into one of many recreation’s elite tight ends throughout his time with the Raiders, incomes a Professional Bowl choice in 2020.

Having turned in a mixed 18 receptions and two touchdowns in his first three seasons performed (he missed all of 2017 resulting from suspension) from 2015-2018, Waller burst upon the nationwide radar in 2019. Having been launched by the Ravens throughout the 2018 season, he was shortly signed by the Raiders, however performed in solely 4 video games.

In his second season in Silver and Black, Waller caught 90 balls for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns, which led to a four-year, $30 million deal. A favourite of then-quarterback Derek Carr, Waller shined in 2020 — the Raiders’ first season in Las Vegas. He hauled in 107 catches for 1,196 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Waller was held to 11 video games in 2021 resulting from an ankle damage, however he nonetheless signed a three-year, $51 million extension in 2022, with the $17 million annual worth remaining tops amongst TEs by means of his retirement.

Nevertheless, he performed in simply eight video games in 2022 for the Raiders, this time resulting from a hamstring damage, and was traded to the Giants the next offseason, with hamstring points persevering with to plague him in Gotham.

Waller was resulting from depend for $14.08 million towards the Giants’ cap this 12 months. In his place, Daniel Bellinger will possible step in to the beginning TE function with New York having additionally added Jack Stoll and drafted Theo Johnson out of Penn State.