Following the blockbuster trade between the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins, Miami was quick to replenish their tight end position.
The Dolphins traded for tight end Darren Waller, who shockingly came out of retirement to play for Miami in 2025.
Recently, on the Up On Game Podcast, former Giants' wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Plaxico Burress thought about why Waller retired when playing with the Giants.
"He came to the Giants and they had him back there playing fullback," Burress said (h/t Giantswire). "You're a tight end. You're not built psychologically or mentally as a tight end to be running up in the two and four hole, taking on middle linebackers and linemen. That’s not how we are built as players."
This makes sense, as Waller made numerous comments about the role he was forced to play in New York. He felt more like a fullback than a tight end for much of his time with the Giants.
Waller referenced a specific example in the Giants' week six loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2023.
"I knew I was retiring when we played in Buffalo. It was a game where it was really controversial because one of the guys held me at the end, and they didn't call it. It was in the first quarter of the game, we were running like this counter-lead running play, and I'm kind of like leading through the hole like I'm a fullback," Waller told WKBW's Michael Schwartz.
"And the play is working, but I sit down on the sideline after a drive where we ran it like three times, and I'm like, 'What the (expletive) am I doing with my life? I'm out here playing fullback. I don't even wanna do this shit anymore.'"
Waller continued that he would finish the season to the best of his ability, but that he was done playing after that with his role.
The tight end would retire at the end of the 2023 season and be away from the game for 2024.
Burress also mentioned that there were other factors around Waller in New York that did not help the situation, and the tight end had things going on outside of football that he believes contributed to the decision.
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) after a game against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium.
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) after a game against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
"I think it had more to do with a lot of things that he had going on outside of football, and I don't really think he wanted to be here in New York playing for Brian Daboll. I really, honestly believe that," Burress said. "It wasn't a good situation. Daniel Jones is at quarterback; they weren't using him as a tight end, which is what they brought him here for."
Waller has returned to football for 2025 and will do so for a new team in a new city. He should be one of Tua Tagovailoa's main quarterback options, besides receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Before his time with the Giants, Waller played four seasons for the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders. Waller displayed his playmaking ability collecting two straight 1,100 yards seasons in 2019 and 2020, earning a Pro-Bowl appearance in 2020.
A change of scenery and new coaching staff with the Dolphins could be what Waller needs to become the impact player he once was at tight end.