Darren Waller Still Undecided About Football Future

Giants Country caught up with Waller at a recent IcyHot promotion in Las Vegas, where he shared some insight into his current thought process.

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller, who created some shockwaves earlier this year when it was revealed that he was contemplating retiring after a disappointing and injury-filled first season following his trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, is still undecided about what he plans to do moving forward.

Waller, who participated in a workout sponsored by IcyHot in which he mentored two hopeful NFL draftees at his position, told Giants Country that he is still deciding whether to return to the team for what would be his ninth season or call it a career and retire. 

Last month, he told The Athletic that he could go either way with his decision to return and made it known that his decision had nothing to do with the hamstring issues that have robbed him of so many games over the past three seasons but that the issues were much deeper. 

He also said at the time that the decision would be made “pretty soon.” So, almost a full month later, and with the Giants' off-season program set to start on April 15, where does he stand?

“I have not decided yet,” a smiling Waller told Giants Country when asked if he was playing next year. 

Waller, a member of the Icy Hot Squad, looked fit and ready to take on another grueling NFL campaign. Although he will be 32 years old when the season begins, he still feels like he possesses the athleticism that made him such a matchup nightmare with the Raiders. 

“Physically, I do still feel like I'm there,” he said when asked if he could still play at a high level. There have been injuries, but as far as how I feel when I'm healthy and out on the field, I still feel like I have a lot to offer.”

New York Giants TE Darren Waller takes a breather during a promotion for IcyHot in Las Vegas, Nevada. / Gene Clemons, Giants Country

Unfortunately, injuries have been a big part of Waller's story. Over the past three seasons, he has missed 17 full games and multiple snaps in others due to injuries, and hamstring issues have been the main cause in most cases. 

Being that big and explosive comes with costs, one of which is extra strain on the major explosive muscles. Waller discussed his injury last season and pointed out where it all went wrong for him on the field. 

“That's the key, figuring out the consistency, figuring out the ways to be out there,” Waller said. “Last year, when I had the hamstring injury, there was the Washington game. I had an injury at the top of my calf.

"It's probably a situation where if I sat out the next week, I would have been fine to go on, but it's like, you get that pride and that pressure to fight through it, and that was compromising my running, which caused me to pull my hamstring. So it’s like I could have probably made a more sound decision to prevent that from happening.”

The tight end was adamant that his ability to make plays was still there when he was healthy. The key is figuring out how to stay out of his own way and not take physical risks that might jeopardize more consistent health in a season.

He discussed the mindset and techniques he has used to center himself off the field and help him make strides to become who he is today and how that could help him make the physical choices to maintain success on the field as he ages. 

“It’s applying that wisdom and saying I'm not always gonna know what's best for me. I may need to consult with other people,” Waller said while discussing how to make better decisions about his health. “I may need to consult with different ways to go about it because I've always been ‘push through, grind through’ this. It's letting people speak into my situation and give their opinion.”

Waller is no stranger to adversity on or off the field. He has certainly figured out how to work his way through it and come out better on the other side. This situation is simply another test that he feels confident he can pass.

“It's been times where my career looked nothing like I wanted it to be, and I ended up doing something about it,” Waller said. “It's another opportunity for me to do that and to believe that and realize that just because things have happened, seasons have gone the way I didn't like them to go, but that doesn't mean it has to be that way forever. It doesn't mean I have to believe what may be written or thought about me. It's all about my mind and what's coming from there because amazing things come from there.”

Many things about the game still excite Waller, and when asked about those things, one can see the sincerity on his face as he talks about the camaraderie with other players and how much work he puts into the craft to play at such a high level. 

“The guys,” Waller said. “Being out there and being in a team environment. Whether it's you making the play that sparks the team or one of the guys making a play that gives you a spark, bring in that environment and contribute to something bigger than myself.”

The energy of the stadium still excites Waller, and he likes the way you can light it up when you make a play. Although it is not the only thing he has a passion for, it does not mean that he does not work really hard to be the best he can be. So, if he does decide to come back for the 2024 season, Giants fans should not expect him to dog it out there. 

“I always give 100% to the things that I do in my life, the things I'm interested in. I always step into the presence of the moment and try to give everything I have to it,” Waller said. The results may be amazing and may be less than what you think of someone of my talent or caliber, but that's not a reflection of my work ethic and the effort I put into it.”

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