Darren Waller's NFL comeback continues via a new deal Panthers

Darren Waller‘s NFL comeback is on for a second season.

The former Pro Bowl tight end agreed to a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Terms of the deal were not reported.

Waller, 33, played in 2025 with the Dolphins on a one-year deal. He was limited by injury to nine games and tallied 24 catches for 283 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Waller previously played for the Ravens, Raiders and one season with the Giants in 2023. He retired after the 2023 season at 31 years old, citing changing passions in life and an off-field medical scare of which he said he “couldn’t breath” and “was pretty clear I almost just lost my life.”

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Can Waller serve as a safety valve and reliable red zone target in a critical season for Bryce Young?

Waller didn’t divulge the nature of his medical scare or diagnosis if there was one, but it was enough in part to push him away from football. But his retirement was short-lived.

Waller rejoined the NFL with the Dolphins last season and will now join a Panthers team seeking to improve on 2025’s 8-9 campaign that was good enough to win the NFC South.
in critical season for former No. 1 pick?

At his best, Waller was one of the NFL’s most productive offensive weapons with the Raiders. He eclipsed 90 catches and 1,100 yards in consecutive seasons in 2019 and 2020. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020 after posting 107 catches for 1,196 yards an 9 touchdowns.

He hasn’t surpassed 665 yards in a single season since, but he remains an imposing physical talent as a pass catcher 6 feet 6 inches and 238 pounds.

Waller joins the Panthers at critical juncture for fourth-year quarterback Bryce Young, who has improved enough to win his job back after being benched but not enough for the Panthers to entrust him with an extension to his rookie contract. Carolina is surely hoping that Waller can serve Young with a safety valve in pressure situations and a big, reliable target in the red zone.