Before Josh McDaniels became the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Darren Waller had a three-year period where he was one of the top players on the team. Las Vegas Raiders, tight end Darren Waller had a three-year period where he was one of the best players on the team, accumulating 3,006 receiving yards from 2019 to 2021 and setting the team's record for catches with 107 in 2020. team's franchise record for catches with 107 in 2020.
During Waller's one season with McDaniels, there was a significant drop in his performance. He only played nine games and caught 28 passes for 388 yards. As a result, he was traded to the New York Giants in the last offseason. New York Giants last offseason. Waller had the opportunity to share his thoughts on McDaniels and acknowledged his strong understanding of football.
'Yeah … Josh McDaniels knows football,' Waller told Vic Tafur of The Athletic in an April 9 interview. April 9 interview. 'That hasn't been his issue. He taught me a lot, especially about return routes and the specifics of route running. The attention to detail in the passing game from his time in New England was very important, and I learned a lot from that.'
This aligns with what other current and former Raiders players have expressed about McDaniels. It's clear he has a deep understanding of football but struggled with other aspects of being a head coach. have said about McDaniels. He clearly has a strong grasp of the game of football but simply couldn’t figure out how to have success with the other aspects of being a head coach.
Darren Waller Expresses Disappointment Over Josh McDaniels' Firing
There was noticeable tension between Darren Waller and Josh McDaniels' staff. Waller's recurring injuries were a point of frustration, and he was unhappy that the coach revealed his wedding date to the media. source of frustration and the tight end didn't appreciate the coach letting his wedding date slip to the media.
Despite the strained relationship, Waller feels remorseful about how things ended with McDaniels.
'Nothing is ever as bad as it seems,' Waller said. 'I saw positive qualities in Josh McDaniels, and it's unfortunate to see people not succeed in that manner.'
The coach was fired before completing his second season with the Raiders and did not secure another job this offseason. It's unlikely that McDaniels will obtain another head coaching position in the near future.
Darren Waller Contemplates Retirement
Darren Waller's time as one of the top tight ends in the NFL was short-lived. He has been dealing with persistent injuries for three consecutive seasons, leading him to ponder retirement. contemplating retirement this offseason.
While retirement is still a possibility for Waller, he is taking his time and has not made a final decision yet.
'I need to make a decision at some point,' Waller said. 'I need to be fully committed to the grind. I have to ensure that I am bringing my best to the table, or it's unfair to the guys I am playing with. I also want to give the team sufficient time to prepare for the next season, regardless of the path I choose. So … it's a somewhat challenging decision, but that's where I stand.'
Waller is only 31 and likely has a few more productive years as a player if he can stay healthy. However, his injuries have been frustrating, and it's possible that he may not recover well enough to continue playing football.
