Darren Waller blames Giants for his forgettable season before brief retirement

The Giants hoped Darren Waller could be a major weapon for Daniel Jones when they acquired him from the Raiders after their surprise playoff run in 2022.

But the former Pro Bowl tight end with a history of injury problems did not have the desired impact, accruing 552 yards and just one touchdown in 12 games while missing time with a hamstring issue as the Giants went 6-11.

Waller retired before the 2024 season but made a comeback with the Dolphins over the summer and has flashed his talent in three games with Miami, scoring four touchdowns.

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The 33-year-old pointed the finger at the Giants for not getting the best out of him, explaining that at one point they had him playing a role on a specific play usually meant for a fullback.

“There were other things I was going through in my life as well that were making me feel like I needed to step away, which I feel like was a wise decision,” Waller said on “The Schultz Report” podcast. “But at that time … the frustration may not have been directly with that, because I will do some dirty s–t. You’ve got to if you’re a good teammate. But I don’t really feel like I was being put in positions for what made me unique to shine. That’s what the frustration was probably coming from more.

“I was filling through the B gap, hitting linebackers and running stick routes. You ain’t getting the best out of me doing that.”

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Waller was going through a divorce from WNBA star Kelsey Plum, with a joint petition being filed in April 2024, just over a year after they were married.

When Waller decided to come out of retirement, the Giants still held his rights, and they got a 2026 sixth-round pick from Miami for Waller and a 2027 seventh-rounder.

Waller said he decided in June he was going to play again and didn’t know if he would have this much of an impact so soon.

“It surprises me a little bit,” he said. “I don’t think the body forgets.”