Some big retirement news hit the NFL world over the weekend as veteran tight end Darren Waller announced his retirement from the sport.
The 31-year-old spent a total of eight seasons in the NFL, most notably with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
Former NFL player and current analyst Ross Tucker recently gave his opinion on Waller’s decision to retire early.
“I applaud guys that retire ‘early’,” Tucker stated on the Ross Tucker Podcast.
“I applaud guys that retire ‘early’…”@RossTuckerNFL reacts to TE Darren Waller’s reported retirement: @GoodRanchers pic.twitter.com/B3549WDL4l
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) June 10, 2024
After overcoming some off-the-field troubles with the Ravens early on in his career, Waller blossomed into one of the league’s best tight ends with the Raiders.
He recorded back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 while leading all tight ends in receptions with 107 in the latter season.
He proved to be a top option for former Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr for a few years with the organization.
It felt like the team had something special on offense after they traded for All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams in 2022.
They had Carr at quarterback, Adams out wide, Waller at tight end, and All-Pro back Josh Jacobs in the backfield.
But after one season together, Carr would head for New Orleans and Waller was traded to the New York Giants.
While with the Giants for one season in 2023, Waller recorded 52 receptions for 552 yards and a touchdown.
However, perhaps with the team in the current place that it is in and with Waller not having played a full season since 2020, the former sixth-round pick’s love for the game has gone out the window.
He should be remembered as a player who overcame some difficult issues to become one of the best offensive players in the league for a time.
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