New York Giants tight end Darren Waller said he has yet to decide if he plans to play in the 2024 season or retire from professional football.
The New York Post reported last month that Waller considered retiring after a disappointing 2023 campaign.
“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Waller told Forbes. “It’s just a matter of respecting the process. There’s so much that goes into the process of going from April through February of an NFL season. The commitment that it requires. I’m a guy who’s evolving, who’s growing, who’s played a lot of football and been through a lot.”
Waller, who will turn 32 in September, caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) last season with New York.
With Waller’s future in question, the Giants added fellow tight ends Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz via free agency last month.
“I’m at the point now where I’m like, ‘OK, how much am I willing to give to the process,'” Waller said. “If it’s not 100 percent, it’s a disservice to the teammates and the organization that I have. I’m still trying to make a decision on that, and it’s tough to make one or the other out of emotion.”
Waller is due a base salary of $10.5 million in 2024. He signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders in September 2022. New York acquired him from Las Vegas in March 2023 for a third-round pick in last year’s draft.
Waller posted back-to-back 1,100+-yard seasons with the Raiders in 2019 and 2020, making the Pro Bowl in the latter campaign.
Waller has 350 catches for 4,124 yards and 20 touchdowns in 86 games (63 starts) for the Baltimore Ravens (2015-16), Raiders (2018-22) and Giants.
