The NFL world was stunned on Sunday after learning of a star player’s retirement plans. Darren Waller will retire at the age of 31, as he’s finished with professional football.
Waller joined the New York Giants last offseason in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders sent the 2020 Pro Bowler to the Giants, who likely hoped for bigger and better things. But after just one year in East Rutherford, Waller is hanging up his cleats.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Waller’s decision to retire.
“TE Darren Waller has informed the team he plans to retire, walking away at the age of 31 after just one season with NYG,” Rapoport said. “Waller hasn’t attended workouts, and the team had known for some time he may not play.”
Sources: #Giants TE Darren Waller has informed the team he plans to retire, walking away at the age of 31 after just one season with NYG.
Waller hasn’t attended workouts, and the team had known for some time he may not play. Now, he’s officially let them know before minicamp. pic.twitter.com/1ZTmj1VX2m
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2024
Waller recorded 350 receptions, 4,124 yards, and 20 receiving touchdowns in his NFL career, which began back in 2015. His best season as a pro came with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, when he racked up 107 receptions, 1,196 yards, and nine receiving touchdowns.
The NFL world had much to say over this abrupt retirement news.
The signing of Waller was one of the best moves of Jon Gruden’s 2nd tenure with #Raiders. He is 1 of 3 TEs in NFL history (Kelce and Gronk) with back-to-back seasons w/ 1100+ yards receiving and 1 of 6 Raiders at any position to do it https://t.co/5rg1Mkuvga
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) June 9, 2024
“We’re on to Theo Johnson” https://t.co/ZtqT7NoXPD pic.twitter.com/gqRiQzsQEL
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) June 9, 2024
we are about to witness the worst rap music ever get made https://t.co/kKO8pElk21
— _ (@ryandisdier) June 9, 2024
Spent one season catching passes from Daniel Jones and called it quits that’s crazy https://t.co/AzqnwAd67z
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) June 9, 2024
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022