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Darren Waller puts his pillows back on.
Waller comes out of retirement to play for Miami Dolphins, who traded with New York Giants to get him in the building before training camp, according to several reports on Tuesday.
Giants held Waller’s rights after announcing his retirement after a New York season in 2023. They received a 2026 sixth round election for Waller and a conditional choice of seventh round in the NFL draft in the NFL, according to ESPN.
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Darren Waller from New York Giants runs on the field before a game against Seattle Seahawks at Metlife Stadium 2 October 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Waller’s return from retirement happened one day after the dolphins sent their Pro Bowl, a tight end from 2024, Jonnu Smith, to Pittsburgh Steelers in a deal involving Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Waller turns out to be a starter, though he will have to compete with Julian Hill and Pharaoh Brown on that role in training camp.
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People close to Waller said he “missed football”, according to ESPN and he would get back in the game if a team wanted him.
The 32-year-old was one of the best tight ends in the NFL with 2,341 receiving yards of 197 receptions with Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 2020 combined. He had 12 touchdowns during this time.
Raiders gave Waller a three-year extension worth $ 51 million, but he was traded for Giants after the 2022 season.
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller catches the ball during the first half against the Washington commands at Metlife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports)
Things did not pan in New York, where he caught 52 passports in 552 yards with only a touchdown in a lost 2023 campaign for Big Blue.
Waller eventually announced that he withdrew after a health scorn in November 2023.
In a YouTube video, Waller revealed that he was struggling to breathe and spent 3½ days in a hospital that was unable to get up, use the bathroom or even feed himself. While he did not reveal the diagnostic doctors gave him to these suffering, he said that the “very frightening situation” changed his thinking and he decided to retire focusing on his music career.
Waller has also been very public about his battles with addiction, especially an overdose of 2017 that turned his life for the better. He has since used his own experience of addiction and rehabilitation to help others.
Darren Waller from New York Giants goes off the field after a game against Philadelphia Eagles at Metlife Stadium 7. January 2024 in East Rutherford, NJ (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
With the dolphins, Waller hopes to be a strength on offense. He will join forces with Tua Tagovailoa, Tirek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and other electric players on that side of the ball.
Waller will also reunite with his former Raiders Tight Ends coach Frank Smith, who worked with him from 2018-20.
