Giants TE Darren Waller retires after 8 NFL seasons

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller has announced his retirement in a YouTube video, citing that “the passion has slowly been fading.” At 31 years old, Waller also shared that a health scare last November made him reevaluate his life. Though he did not specify the medical condition, Waller described a frightening experience where he struggled to breathe and spent 3 1/2 days in the hospital unable to perform basic tasks. The Giants had already anticipated Waller’s retirement, with the team expressing their respect and well wishes for him in a statement. During the offseason, Waller took time to reflect on his decision and was not with the team. He expressed gratitude towards the NFL for providing him with opportunities to address his past struggles with addiction and for allowing him to reestablish himself. Waller, who is also pursuing a music career, joined the Giants in 2023 after playing for the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. In his single season with New York, Waller played 12 games, starting 11 of them, and recorded 52 receptions for 552 yards and one touchdown. Over his career, Waller accumulated 350 receptions, 4,124 yards, and 20 touchdowns in 86 games. ESPN reports that the Giants will save $11.9 million against the cap by cutting Waller as a post-June 1 move. –Field Level Media