NFL star Darren Waller has informed the New York Giants that he has called it a day on his football career at the tender age of 31 after his recent split from WNBA star Kelsey Plum.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the veteran tight end ‘hasn’t attended workouts,’ including organized team activities (OTAs), ‘and the team had known for some time he many not play.’
Waller, who only signed with the Giants last year to become the highest paid player in his position ($17M in 2023) until Travis Kelce‘s extension this offseason, seems to have made up his mind before the start of the team’s mandatory minicamp (June 11).
The one-time Pro Bowl selectee’s decision comes just weeks after he and Plum – a point guard for the Las Vegas Aces – filed for divorce in April.
The couple were married for a little over a year, as they tied the knot in March 2023.
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Earlier this year, Waller released ‘Who Knew’ a song about his former wife. The track received mixed reviews, with some individuals saying it lacked quality.
Before reports of his decision to retire emerged on Sunday, Waller had three more seasons on his contract with the Giants. He was due a base salary of $10.5M in 2024 although no guaranteed money remains on his deal.
The Giants will now take a dead cap charge of $7.9M but will save $6.2M against the cap this season. The Giants acquired Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders via a trade in March 2023.
‘We have great respect for Darren as a person and a player. We wish him nothing but the best,’ the Giants shared a statement regarding Waller’s decision to retire, via the NFL Network.
Waller retires after eight NFL seasons, having played in New York (2023), Las Vegas (2018-2023) and the Baltimore (2015-2018). He was selected by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Plum, meanwhile, was the No 1 overall pick of the 2017 WNBA draft. She is a two-time WNBA champion and a two-time WNBA All-Star.
In April, she confirmed that she had jointly filed for divorce with Waller in a cryptic and emotional statement.
‘I’m devastated. I walked through fire for that man, but I now see it’s time to go,’ her statement read.
‘God has given me an incredible life, and I’m truly so grateful for the profound love from my family and friends. One day I’ll share my story, today is not that day.
‘Thank you for the grace to process my pain, to forgive and move forward. Today and everyday I will continue to choose joy. Much love KP’