Darren Waller Knew He Was Done With Football Mid-Game — But Left the Giants Hanging for Months
Darren Waller kept the New York Giants waiting for months as speculation swirled about whether he’d return for the 2024 season. The tight end finally informed the team of his retirement in early June — but as it turns out, his decision had been made much earlier.
On a recent episode of The Side You Don’t See podcast, Waller revealed that he mentally checked out during the first quarter of a Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills in 2023.
“We were running this counter-lead play where I’m basically a fullback leading through the hole,” Waller said. “The play worked, but I went to the sideline and thought, ‘What the hell am I doing with my life? I don’t even want to do this anymore.’”
Darren Waller
As he sat on the bench, staring at the moon, Waller realized his mind was already made up.
“I decided right there: I’ll finish this season as best I can, but I’m done after this.”
That game ended in heartbreak for the Giants, who lost 14-9 when a potential game-winning pass from Tyrod Taylor to Waller fell incomplete at the 1-yard line as time expired.
Waller finished the 2023 season — his only one with the Giants — with 52 receptions for 552 yards in 12 games after being traded from the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick.
With his playing days now behind him, Waller is shifting gears and focusing on a new passion: his music career.
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