From Retirement to South Beach: Darren Waller’s Wild Ride Lands in Miami

The Miami Dolphins just made one of the boldest and most intriguing moves of the 2025 offseason—acquiring tight end Darren Waller in a trade just a year after his short-lived retirement from the NFL and detour into a rap career. It’s a full-circle moment in a career marked by reinvention, setbacks, and elite flashes of talent.

Waller will step in as the immediate replacement for Jonnu Smith, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after reportedly requesting a raise. Smith had a career year in Miami last season, breaking every single-season tight end record in franchise history under offensive coordinator Frank Smith—who now reunites with Waller, a player he has a strong rapport with dating back to his time coaching tight ends.

Waller’s journey is the stuff of football lore. Drafted as a wide receiver by the Ravens in the 6th round in 2015, he battled suspensions and personal struggles before emerging as a top-tier tight end with the Raiders. From 2019 to 2020, he racked up 197 catches for 2,341 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors and recognition as one of the league’s most dominant mismatch nightmares.

But after signing a $51 million extension in 2022, injuries began to pile up. A trade to the New York Giants in 2023 saw brief flashes of the old Waller—52 catches for 552 yards in 12 games—but the dysfunction in New York, combined with off-field distractions like a high-profile marriage, subsequent divorce, and a “budding” rap career, seemed to pull him away from football. He retired in 2024, only to unretire this summer in a move that has both fans and analysts buzzing.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted that “this is the exact kind of system and situation where you can get the most out of Darren Waller.” The Dolphins’ offense, led by head coach Mike McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith, is well-suited to maximize Waller’s skill set. The system’s emphasis on spacing, vertical threats like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and tight end-friendly play designs turned Jonnu Smith into a record-setting Pro Bowler in 2024 (88 receptions, 884 yards, 8 TDs). Waller, a superior talent at his peak, could thrive in a similar role if healthy and football focused.

Here’s what Miami is getting:

• Career totals: 350 receptions, 4,124 receiving yards, 20 touchdowns across 86 games.

• Peak years: Over 1,100 yards in both 2019 and 2020.

• 2023 with NYG: 52 receptions, 552 yards, 1 TD in a struggling offense.