Darren Waller is coming out of retirement, but it will not be with the New York Giants, with whom he was under contract. Big Blue traded the veteran tight end to the Miami Dolphins along with a 2027 conditional seventh-round pick for a 2026 sixth-round pick on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old retired last summer after eight pro seasons with New York, the Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders, from which he was acquired ahead of the 2023 campaign. In his lone season in New York, Waller caught 52 passes for 552 yards and a touchdown while continuing to battle with hamstring issues.
He had been one of the best tight ends in all of football between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, posting 197 receptions for 2,341 yards and 12 scores for the Raiders. Injury issues, a health scare in November 2023, and New York drafting Theo Johnson out of Penn State at the 2024 draft all led to his initial retirement.
Waller reportedly informed the Giants that he was willing to come out of retirement, but only to play for the Dolphins, per NFL.com. The AFC East side has been plenty active as of late, pulling off a blockbuster on Monday by trading tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers for star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
