Former Las Vegas Raiders TE Darren Waller retires from NFL

Jun 10, 2024, 9:42 AM

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 02: Darren Waller #83 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before the game...

(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

After weeks of speculation, veteran tight end Darren Waller announced his retirement from football over the weekend.

Following reports that Waller had informed the New York Giants of his plans to retire, the 2020 Pro Bowler shared a social media video explaining his decision to walk away from the game at 31 years old.

Waller, who played eight NFL seasons, spent five seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2018 to 2022. The Raiders signed Waller to a three-year, $51 million deal before the 2022 season before trading the Georgia Tech talent to the Giants in March 2023.

Darren Waller officially has announced his retirement from the NFL. pic.twitter.com/LECjWkSjAn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 9, 2024

More on former Raiders TE Darren Waller

Waller explained his decision on Sunday in a video that was shared on social media.

“Last season in New Jersey, we played the Jets on October 29,” Waller said. “I got hurt that game. The following week, the Giants were playing the Raiders in Vegas… I started to feel like this fever coming on. … The fever starts to build, I start to get the chills and stuff like that. By the time I pull into my parking garage at my condo and get out of the car, I’m, like, shaking pretty violently, like uncontrollably.”

Waller said that he had trouble breathing in his bed the next morning and called 911, and that he ended up spending three-and-a-half days in a hospital.

“Was pretty clear I almost just lost my life,” Waller said. “I don’t know if I really feel like if I would’ve died that I would’ve felt great about how my life was going.”

Waller didn’t disclose his diagnosis, but went on to say that “his passions in life have changed.”

Over eight NFL seasons with the Raiders, Giants, and Baltimore Ravens, Waller hauled in 20 touchdowns and 4,124 yards (350 receptions) over 86 games.

Waller’s best season occurred in 2020 with the Raiders, where he caught a career-high nine touchdowns and secured 1,196 receiving yards en route to his lone Pro Bowl appearance.