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

After the Miami Dolphins last week traded Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith and former All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the front office pivoted to address the major void at tight end.

Smith had a historic season in 2024, setting franchise records at the position for catches (88), receiving yards (884) and touchdowns (eight). But he was unhappy with his contract and the Dolphins decided to trade two disgruntled players in return for veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a late-round pick swap.

The way the Dolphins addressed the need for a veteran tight end was a shocker. They lured former Pro Bowler Darren Waller out of retirement, sending a 2026 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick to his previous team, the New York Giants, for the right to sign him.

The timing for Waller, 32, couldn’t have been better.

Waller’s decision to exit retirement and re-enter the league surfaced through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

“I got a phone call from Darren, and he said, ‘Drew, I’ve decided that I want to play again,’” Rosenhaus said during his weekly Sunday night 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 retired abruptly in June 2024, citing a desire to focus on his mental health and personal growth. His departure followed a one-season, injury-plagued stint with the Giants after a successful five-year run with the Raiders.

At the time he retired, he had 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 13 months ago 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 when he retired, Waller made it clear that 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 welcomed in Miami.

“For the Dolphins this was terrific timing after losing Jonnu Smith — to add Waller to the mix was really very fortunate,” said Rosenhaus, who notably also represents Smith. “Cause those are some big shoes to fill with Jonnu being part of that trade to the Steelers.”

Waller is expected to join training camp at the end of the month. His previous experience playing in a system like coach Mike McDaniel’s means he should be able to quickly fit into the Dolphins’ developing offense.

This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM.