Giants’ Jones: ‘Darren(Waller) obviously was a great player and wish him the best in his retirement’

After much speculation, New York Giants TE  Darren Waller retired from the NFL earlier this week. 

The 31-year-old Waller, who spent eight seasons in the league with the Ravens, Raiders, and Giants, was traded to New York last offseason. 

In 2023, Waller had 52 receptions for 552 yards and a touchdown.

Things have not been rosy for Waller outside of football. After one year of marriage, Waller recently divorced his wife, WNBA star Kelsey Plum. Earlier in his career, he battled and overcame substance abuse.

In addition, Waller released a new song discussing his relationship with Plum. 

New York began mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, and Giants head coach Brian Daboll discussed Waller’s retirement from the NFL. 

“Yeah, I would say the first thing with Darren is my concern for him is more of a person than anything,” Daboll said.  “I’m glad he’s doing well. Spoke to him yesterday. Communicated with him throughout the off-season.

“That’s his decision; we were going to respect the decision and give him as much time as he needed. Wish him well. Here for him if he needs anything. That’s what happens in the NFL sometimes.”

Without Waller, New York is counting on Daniel Bellinger, Theo Johnson, Lawrence Cager, and Chris Manhertz at the tight end position.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is happy with how those players have looked during mini-camp.

“I think we’ve got a lot of great players in that room, and Darren obviously was a great player and wish him the best in his retirement,” Jones said. “But, Bellinger has looked good, and then Theo (Johnson), (Lawrence) Cager, Chris (Manhertz), all of those guys in that room have played well.”

Bellinger, who had 25 catches for 255 yards in 2023, is ready to step up and replace what Waller brought to the Giants’ offense.

“Yeah, I’m ready to take a step,” he said. “I am ready to take a step and do whatever they need me to do and do it better. Anything they want me to do, I want to take a step and get better and make sure they build that trust and confidence we have been doing the last couple of years, but take another step in that, take another step in growing.”

New York could miss Waller this season. He was brought in to be a big part of the team’s passing game, but he’s gone, and hopefully, the Giants can adequately replace him in 2024.