Giants TE Darren Waller retires after 1 season with team, describes scary medical situation that preceded decision

Former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller has retired from the NFL at 31 years old after a single season with the New York Giants.

Waller informed the Giants of his decision prior to the start of their minicamp, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The Giants confirmed his retirement in a statement Sunday afternoon.

“We have great respect for Darren as a person and player,” the statement reads. “We wish him nothing but the best.”

New York’s mandatory minicamp starts Tuesday. The Giants traded a third-round draft pick to acquire Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders prior to last season.

Waller: Medical situation preceded call to retire

Waller addressed his decision in a YouTube video released Sunday afternoon. He mentioned his recent divorce from WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum and described a frightening medical situation off the field last season that “forced me into a position to re-evaluate.”

Waller didn’t explain what the medical condition was, but described a scene that led to a hospital stay midway through the season while he was away from the team with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 8 against the Jets.

“Last season in New Jersey, we played the Jets on October 29,” Waller said. “I got hurt that game. The following week, the Giants were playing the Raiders in Vegas. … I started to feel like this fever coming on. … The fever starts to build, I start to get the chills and stuff like that. By the time I pull into my parking garage at my condo and get out of the car, I’m, like, shaking pretty violently, like uncontrollably.”

Waller said that he “couldn’t breath” in his bed the next morning and called 911. He said that paramedics responded and that he ended up spending 3 1/2 days in a hospital.

“Was pretty clear I almost just lost my life,” Waller said. “I don’t know if I really feel like if I would’ve died that I would’ve felt great about how my life was going.”

Waller didn’t share his diagnosis, but went on to say that his passions in life had changed.

“The worst…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-te-darren-waller-retires-after-1-season-with-team-describes-scary-medical-situation-that-preceded-decision-000901973.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-10 00:09:01

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.