Giants TE Darren Waller to Return After Considering Retirement, per Report
The veteran had a difficult first season in New York.
Darren Waller had a disappointing first season with the New York Giants, totaling just 552 receiving yards and one touchdown in 11 games while battling injuries. The year was so tough for the tight end that he apparently considered leaving the game all together.
The New York Post reports that Waller considered retirement after the 2023 season, but the veteran instead decided that he will return for his second season in New York in 2024.
The Giants traded for Waller last offseason expecting him to be the big addition to the offense following a playoff 2022 season. Instead, both Waller and the Giants offense struggled throughout 2023, as no receiver on the team surpassed 800 receiving yards.
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Waller has been in the league since 2015, but broke out with the Raiders in ’19 after battling off-field issues including challenges with sobriety early in his career. He signed a three-year extension with the Raiders in ’22, but Las Vegas traded him to New York last offseason before the extension officially kicked in.
The tight end is under contract through ’26, but the Giants can release him without much of a penalty at any point before then. Waller will enter this year at 32 years old and has missed 19 games due to injuries since ’21.