Total Pro Sports
Darren Waller was back in the NFL.
In a rather shocking development, the former Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants star tight end is ending his retirement.
He not only ended it, but also got immediately traded to another team.
According to Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins are trading for New York Giants TE Darren Waller. Pelissero adds that Waller will sign an adjusted, incentive-heavy deal to facilitate the trade to Miami.
Surprise! The #Dolphins are finalizing a trade with the #Giants for former Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller, who is coming out of retirement to play in Miami, per sources.
A fascinating twist for Waller, who retired last summer, and a new weapon for a team that just traded Jonnu Smith. pic.twitter.com/MDO2XnHClb
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 1, 2025
Previous reports indicated the Dolphins wanted to find a replacement for TE Jonnu Smith after trading him to the Steelers this week in a deal that landed them safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Waller shockingly announced his retirement from football in June 2024, but is now ending that to play for the Dolphins.
The former sixth-round pick of the Ravens appeared in 12 games during the 2023 season and recorded 52 receptions for 552 yards (10.6 YPC) and one touchdown.
Trading for Waller after dealing away Smith, who was just coming off a Pro Bowl season, had many fans scratching their heads.
“Yeah dolphins got some dark magic going on bc wtf,” one fan wrote.
yeah dolphins got some dark magic going on bc wtf
— jack (@Jack80655997) July 1, 2025
“Quite the downgrade from Jonnu…” another remarked.
quite the downgrade from Jonnu…
— steelersfix (@steelersfix) July 1, 2025
“The Dolphins trading for a retired guy after trading away a good TE,” a third said, accompanied by the perfect meme.
The Dolphins trading for a retired guy after trading away a good TE pic.twitter.com/vkrM1dvrV2
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) July 1, 2025
Former NFL tight end Darren Waller had it all when he found himself attached to Kelsey Plum.
Waller and Kelsey Plum divorced after only one year of marriage. They tied the knot in March 2023 but formally filed for divorce 13 months later. Several weeks later, Waller announced his retirement from football.
Their marriage was one of the most notable ones involving a pair of professional athletes. Waller was often spotted supporting his wife and the Las Vegas Aces at their home games in Sin City.
Speaking on Power 105.1’s “The Breakfast Club” show in 2024, he explained that he lost himself during their marriage, making the divorce necessary for both parties:
“You talk about get honest or die lying, you kinda got to look at yourself and realize, alright, what role am I playing that all the relationships in my life have always had the same patterns.
It kinda...
