New details emerge as Darren Waller fills tight end void for Miami Dolphins

Miami Herald

08-07-2025

More details have emerged as the Miami Dolphins fill in the pieces of their offensive puzzle before the season's kickoff, which is less than nine weeks away.
After it was announced last week that Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith was leaving the team alongside former All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Dolphins front office realized they had a problem on their hands.
Smith had a historic season in Miami, setting franchise records at the position for catches (88), receiving yards (884) and touchdowns (eight). His absence, coming after the team was unable to compensate him as one of the league's 'top tight ends,' left a clear void.
That void was ultimately filled in a shocking twist for the entire football world last week, when one-time Pro Bowler Darren Waller exited retirement to return to the field for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New York Giants, who held Waller's rights, in exchange for him and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick. The move came at a moment when Miami's need for a proven tight end had never been clearer — and Waller's timing couldn't have been better.
Now, more pieces of the puzzle are coming together, as Waller's decision to exit retirement and re-enter the league surfaced early Monday morning through his representation, Drew Rosenhaus.
'I got a phone call from Darren, and he said 'Drew, I've decided that I want to play again,' Rosenhaus, Waller's agent, said during his weekly appearance on WSVN 7's 'Sports Xtra.' ''I miss football. I've got the itch to play. The love of the game is back, and I would like to play for the Miami Dolphins.''
Waller, who retired abruptly in June 2024, cited a desire to focus on his mental health and personal growth, stepping away after an injury-plagued stint with the New York Giants. At the time, he had also begun exploring a music career, releasing a surprisingly prolific number of tracks including his song 'Choose wisely,' which detailed his decision to retire.
'Reaching my decision to retire was quite a journey,' he said last June upon releasing the track. 'There were so many emotions that I had to sit with and let them run their course. Even with all the amazing moments that happened in my career, it was difficult to be my most authentic self and cope with everything that came with being on that stage. That's how I came to write this song.'
Though just 31 at the time of his retirement, Waller made it clear he needed space from the demands of professional football. His decision to return just more than a year later caught much of the league by surprise — but was met with open arms in Miami.
It also came at the perfect moment for the Dolphins.
'For the Dolphins this was terrific timing after losing Jonnu Smith — to add Waller to the mix was really very fortunate,' Rosenhaus, who notably also represents Smith, said. 'Cause those are some big shoes to fill with Jonnu being part of that trade to the [Pittsburgh] Steelers.'
Waller is expected to join training camp at the end of the month. His previous experience playing in a system like Mike McDaniel's —who was the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 — means he should be able to quickly fit into the Dolphins' developing offense.