Giants reportedly bracing for Darren Waller to announce retirement soon

Darren Waller might have played his final snap in the NFL.

The New York Giants are expecting the veteran tight end to make a decision on his football future before the team starts minicamp on June 11, ESPN reported Monday.  

Waller, who’ll turn 32 shortly after the season begins in September, has pondered retirement this offseason. Rumors of him leaning toward retirement emerged during the NFL Draft in April, when the Giants selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson early in the fourth round. 

Prior to the draft, Waller had told the Giants that he planned to return in 2024, the New York Post reported in early March. However, he opened the door to retirement again in an interview with The Athletic in April.

“It’s really the idea of signing up for another journey,” Waller said. “It’s tough, it’s long, it requires a lot. And if you’re not fully bought into every single thing of the process, it’s going to be tough. I feel like at the end of the day, you’re doing guys a disservice if you’re not all the way in. So those are the kinds of things I’m taking into account.”

Waller hasn’t been present for the Giants’ voluntary offseason workouts and organized team activities (OTAs). Next week’s minicamp is mandatory.

Waller teased that a decision on his football future would be coming soon during an Instagram Live on Friday. He’s been working on his music this offseason, releasing a song last week and another video of him rapping on his Instagram over the weekend. 

The Giants acquired Waller in 2023 in hopes that he would remain healthy and bolster their pass-catching corps, giving up a third-round pick in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. But Waller missed five games due to a hamstring injury and finished with 52 receptions for 552 yards and a touchdown. He also missed several games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. 

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Publish date : 2024-06-03 16:56:07

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