After just eight seasons in the NFL, former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller has officially stepped away from football—and his decision came at a steep personal and financial cost. Known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and most recently the New York Giants, Waller shocked fans when he retired early to pursue a career in music.
In a recent appearance on The Zac Clark Show, Waller opened up about the decision to walk away, revealing he left a $32 million contract on the table. Had he stayed with the Giants, he would’ve earned that amount over the next three seasons. But the most surprising detail? He actually had to pay the team to exit the deal—writing a check for $750,000 in bonus money to walk away.
“The next three years would’ve been like $32 million,” Waller said. “And I had to write a check to walk away… Success and validation took over. I poured everything into making football work. But this is a chance to choose a life I actually want to live.”
Waller, who began his NFL journey as a wide receiver with the Ravens, struggled early in his career and was even suspended for the entire 2017 season due to a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. In 2016, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh moved him to tight end—a switch that would ultimately redefine his career.
His breakout came in 2019 with the Raiders when he racked up 1,145 receiving yards and three touchdowns, followed by an even stronger 2020 season with 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns—earning him his first and only Pro Bowl selection. Over the course of his NFL career, Waller amassed 350 receptions for 4,124 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 11.8 yards per catch.
Now, Waller is stepping into a new chapter. Following his retirement, he released a track titled “Who Knew,” a song believed to be inspired by his recent divorce from WNBA star Kelsey Plum.
Though his NFL journey had its share of highs and lows, Waller is now betting on himself in a whole new arena—and doing it entirely on his own terms.
Leave a Reply