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Former NFL Star Darren Waller Reveals New Details on Abandoning $32 Million
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Former Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants star tight end Darren Waller walked away from the NFL after only eight seasons. Following his shock retirement, the former Pro Bowl talent began to pursue a career in music.
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Now, Waller has revealed more details about walking away from the NFL, including losing out on the $32 million contract the Giants offered him.
Waller joined "The Zac Clark Show," where he discussed that he would have made $32 million over the next three seasons, had he remained in the league. Even worse is he also reveals he had to pay the Giants money to actually walk away from his contract.
"The next three years would have been like $32 million ... And I had to write a check to walk away. I had to write $750,000 in bonus money to the Giants to walk away. Success and validation and s*** like that took the forefront. I poured it all into making football work ... this is another opportunity for me to like say this is the life that I'm choosing I want to live like. This is an opportunity for me to receive that but also not let it dictate what I feel I need to be doing."
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: Foster Moreau #87 and Darren Waller #83 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: Foster Moreau #87 and Darren Waller #83 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, news: 49ers' George Kittle Sends Warning to NFL Over Return of DC Robert Saleh
Waller had a breakout year in 2019 with the Raiders, when he put together a campaign that included 1,145 yards and three touchdowns. He would follow that up with another 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020, leading to his lone Pro Bowl nod.
Waller ended his eight-season career in the NFL with 4,124 yards, 20 touchdowns, 350 receptions, and an 11.8 yards per catch average.
Though he had an up-and-down start to his professional career, including being suspended for the 2017 season for violating the substance-abuse policy, Waller was considered to be a top tight end in the NFL.
Interestingly, he began his career as a wide receiver, but had trouble making headway on a stacked Ravens squad. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced in 2016 that Waller would convert to the tight end position, leading to his resurgence as a pass catcher.
Following his shock retirement from the NFL, Waller released a song called "Who Knew," which is reportedly about his ex-wife, WNBA star Kelsey Plum.
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