Darren Waller’s life feels like something straight out of Timothée Chalamet‘s movie Beautiful Boy. Waller made a name for himself with his brilliance on the gridiron with the Ravens. But there are sides of people that we never see. We all know tight end Darren with his explosive plays on the field, but not the person he was behind the flesh and bones. Waller had his demons, the kind that doesn’t always show up on the field. The 32-year-old’s history with substance abuse is not news to NFL fans. Back in 2023, when he married Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces fans thought it was a fresh start for him, offering hope for a brighter chapter. Little did anyone know…..!

Darren and Kelsey seemed like a match made in heaven. Both athletes, both playing for the biggest American leagues in their respective sports. But then, the fairytale ended. After only a year of marriage, the couple filed for divorce last April. It was heartbreaking for both of their fans. Now, as Darren is fighting through everything in life, he’s opened up about his separation for the first time. “I was looking at [my marriage to Kelsey] through the eyes of other people—like how it made me look,” said Warren.

Sometimes, we just go with things because everyone says it looks perfect. And later in life, we realize that we never wanted this. Human hearts are complicated creations. Aren’t they? “Who would turn down somebody with her résumé? But being traded [to the Giants in 2023] exposed everything that was going on within me. It put me back in the space of feeling isolated. I didn’t know people in [New York]. So I just retreated back to old habits,” added the former TE. 

At times, two people who don’t belong together end up with each other, only to figure out later that they are better off apart. Darren and Kelsey’s marriage was like that, at least from his point of view. When he moved to the Giants in 2023, things started to make more sense. It took a toll on his mental health, and to escape it all, he fell back into his old habits -substance abuse.

But one fine day, he decided to walk away from football. Waller was finally ready to see life in a whole new way.

Darren Waller wants to make music after bidding football goodbye

Last year, when the former Ravens player announced his retirement, it left everyone stunned. In a league where many aspiring players are sweating day and night to make it, Darren Waller was saying an early goodbye. In an Instagram post sharing the news of his retirement, Waller wrote, “Reaching my decision to retire was quite a journey. 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 was also when Darren dropped his first song. He posted a video with clips from his football days, featuring his first-ever song. “That’s how I came to write this song. “Choose Wisely (Farewell)” encapsulates all of the feelings I’ve been reflecting on. I hope it inspires you to reflect as well.” Realizing that football was no longer what he wanted to do, the former TE is now fully focused on making music. Waller’s days are now filled with hitting the gym, staying healthy, journaling, and pursuing what he believes is his true calling—making music. “Football was to fill a hole. I want to do music out of love.”

The 32-year-old has put his substance abuse behind him and has turned to therapy for support. “Sometimes I feel like a tire spinning in the mud, but I feel like I’m getting there,” he said. Darren’s been on a rollercoaster, but he’s getting there. He is set to push through everything he’s dealing with and find love again — whether it’s in someone else or his music.