AI-written summary of reporting by New York Post. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Tight end Darren Waller, 33, has signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, according to an announcement Wednesday night from his agency, Rosenhaus Sports. ESPN reported the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

New York Post

Darren Waller signs one-year deal with Carolina Panthers

Aug 12, 2026, 10:51 PM

Tight end Darren Waller, 33, has signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, according to an announcement Wednesday night from his agency, Rosenhaus Sports. ESPN reported the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Context

Waller retired following a single season with the New York Giants in 2023, in which he recorded 552 receiving yards and one touchdown in 12 games. He subsequently returned to the NFL for the 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins after a trade.

In nine games with Miami, Waller recorded 24 receptions for 283 yards and six touchdowns, the second-highest single-season touchdown total of his nine-year career. His availability was limited by a hip injury that kept him out of the first four games, a pectoral strain in October that placed him on injured reserve for four more games, and a groin injury that resulted in a second IR designation ahead of Miami's season finale.

Waller's most productive season came in 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders, when he posted career highs of 107 receptions and 1,196 receiving yards and was named to the Pro Bowl.

In October 2025, Waller spoke on 'The Schultz Report' podcast about his initial decision to retire and his time with the Giants. He said personal circumstances contributed to his choice to step away, and he also expressed that he felt he had not been used in ways that suited his strengths in New York.

Waller will join a Panthers tight end room that already includes Ja'Tavion Sanders, who had 29 receptions last season, and Tommy Tremble, who had 27 receptions.

All Perspectives
Darren Waller: Waller said on 'The Schultz Report' podcast that personal circumstances made him feel he needed to step away from football, which he described as a wise decision at the time. He also said he felt he was not being placed in positions that allowed what made him unique to shine while with the Giants, stating: 'I was filling through the B gap, hitting linebackers and running stick routes. You ain't getting the best out of me doing that.'
Position not represented in the source reporting: New York Giants.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • Financial terms of the Panthers contract are not yet known.
  • The Panthers organization has not been quoted or provided a statement regarding the signing.
  • The Giants organization has not responded to Waller's comments about his time in New York.
  • Details of the trade that sent Waller to the Dolphins are not provided.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. New York Post — original

Read the original at New York Post

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