TE Darren Waller informs Giants that he plans to retire after eight NFL seasons

It’s an unceremonious end to what was a wonderful tale written by the 31-year-old.

An inspirational story having overcome a battle with drug addiction, Waller began his NFL career with the Ravens as a 2015 sixth-round pick before multiple suspensions for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. However, he triumphantly returned, becoming one of the game’s elite tight ends during his time with the Raiders, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2020.

Having turned in a combined 18 receptions and two touchdowns in his first three seasons played (he missed all of 2017 due to suspension) from 2015-2018, Waller burst upon the national radar in 2019. Having been released by the Ravens during the 2018 season, he was quickly signed by the Raiders, but played in only four 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 favorite 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 nine touchdowns.

Waller was held to 11 games in 2021 due to an ankle injury, but he still signed a three-year, $51 million extension in 2022, with the $17 million annual value remaining tops among TEs through his retirement.

However, he played in just eight games in 2022 for the Raiders, this time due to a hamstring injury, and was traded to the Giants the following offseason, with hamstring issues continuing to plague him in Gotham.

Waller was due to count for $14.08 million against the Giants’ cap this year. In his place, Daniel Bellinger will likely step in to the starting TE role with New York having also added Jack Stoll and drafted Theo Johnson out of Penn State.