Plaxico Burress shares theory on Darren Waller’s New York Giants exit, ‘I really, honestly believe that’

Plaxico Burress shares theory on Darren Waller’s New York Giants exit

Waller was a wide receiver during his college days at Georgia Tech, but the Baltimore Ravens saw something in him as a converted tight end.

A suspension saw Waller miss the 2017 season, but Baltimore waived him in September 2018, signing him to their practice squad.

The Raiders signed Waller just two months later, and he hasn’t looked back, racking up two 1,000-plus receiving yard seasons.

Waller recorded 107 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns in the 2020 season, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s very best tight ends.

The Raiders traded Waller to the New York Giants in 2023, less than a year after handing him a huge three-year, $51million contract.

Waller’s time in New York was short and sweet, recording 52 catches in 12 games for a total of 552 yards, before he decided to hang up his cleats and retire.

Now 32, Waller is back again, and Plaxico Burress believes he knows why the retirement decision was made in the first place.

Speaking on Up on Game, Burress suggested that Waller simply didn’t want to play for Giants head coach Brian Daboll.

Former Giants receiver Burress noted that Waller was often used as a fullback rather than as a tight end, which just isn’t Waller’s game.

Burress feels Waller just wasn’t in a good situation in New York, and he truly believes that Waller’s retirement was in part down to not wanting to play for Daboll with the Giants.

“He came to the Giants and they had him back there playing fullback,” said Burress.

“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.

“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.

“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,” he added.

Brian Daboll is entering a crucial season

Daboll enters the 2025 season as the leader of the hot seat rankings.

The Giants appeared to be moving forward when Daboll went 9-7 in his first season as head coach.

The last two seasons have brought disappointing results, though, as Daboll went 6-11 in 2023 and 3-14 in 2024.

Results are heading in the wrong direction for Daboll, and he cannot afford for that trend to continue this season.

Many may even predict an in-season firing for Daboll if the Giants can’t turn things around early in a difficult 2025 season.

New Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart could offer some hope, but Daboll needs to find improvement one way or another – or he could find himself fired.