New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller Expected to Announce Retirement Before Minicamp

The New York Giants are facing the likelihood that their tight end, Darren Waller, is set to announce his retirement as they gear up for the upcoming mandatory minicamp, as per reports.

Waller, who has been contemplating retirement during the offseason, shared on an Instagram Live session that a decision on his future in football is imminent.

The 31-year-old has been absent from the Giants’ voluntary offseason programs, with head coach Brian Daboll indicating the team will respect Waller’s timeline in making his decision.

The Giants have been operating under the presumption of Waller’s retirement, evident in their draft selection of tight end Reggie Gilliam and the signings of veteran players like Kyle Rudolph and Chris Mara.

Drafting Gilliam in the fourth round out of Penn State further solidified the team’s depth chart at the position, which includes Evan Engram.

Waller’s journey in the NFL began in 2015 when he was a late-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens out of Georgia Tech.

He was hampered by suspensions in his early years due to substance abuse violations before finding success with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019 and 2020.