Darren Waller Returns from Retirement, Nets Two TDs in Dolphins Debut

Darren Waller came out of retirement and made an immediate impact for the Miami Dolphins, scoring multiple touchdowns in his first game with the team since leaving the NFL and helping Miami to its first victory of the season. Waller, who was traded to the Dolphins on July 1, 2025, made his Dolphins debut in Week 4 on Monday Night Football at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, catching two touchdown passes and securing an onside kick late in the game in a win over the New York Jets.

The trade that brought Waller to Miami sent a 2026 sixth round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for Waller and a 2027 seventh round pick. Waller had retired on June 9, 2024, after a stretch of injuries and what he described as a fading passion for the game. He unretired a little more than a year later and signed with the Dolphins, but a hip-related quadriceps tear kept him out of Miami’s first three regular season games and most of training camp.

When he finally took the field, Waller’s contributions were immediate. He caught a 14 yard third down pass on Miami’s opening drive that set up a field goal, then hauled in a fourth down touchdown on the team’s second possession. He added a second...