Giants’ Darren Waller harnesses family-driven talent as possible post-football career

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Giants tight end Darren Waller, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Raiders, catches up with Post columnist Steve Serby for some Q&A.

Q: How has your wife, WNBA Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum, been supportive for you this season?

A: Just being somebody that isnt caught up in the results or the outcomes … just somebody thats there that loves you as the person that you are, the human being that you are, no matter what happens in the day-to-day, or what happens in the course of the season, and its definitely a blessing.

Q: How would you describe your on-field mentality?

A: Im a one-play-at-a-time kind of guy. Im a one-day-at-a-time kind of guy in life, in how Ive kind of had to change the course of my life. So Im more so just like whatever plays right in front of me that need to be made, Im going to make it, and I have confidence in myself to make as many plays as opportunities that I get. Im a calm guy. Im loose, calm, like, not overly intense, not overly emotional and kind of up and down. Im just like somebody that people know that Im going to be right in the middle the whole day. But definitely somebody thats going to be make a play when given an opportunity to give us a spark.

Q: Theres no doubt in your mind that you can be a dominant player, correct?

A: I step onto the field and hold myself to a standard that is very high, because I know that Ive done that, and when Im on the field, I do that when opportunities are presented.

Giants_Darren_Waller_harnesses_family_driven_talent_as_possible_post_football_career 5Darren Waller shares a kiss with wife Kelsey Plum after she and the Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals. Getty ImagesQ: What has this season been like emotionally for you?

A: Not really all that volatile, man. Ive been through seasons where its like Ive been hurt and then you feel like somethings just wrong you because you are not healthy, and then you start to like … you feel like youre failing as a human being. So now Im not as emotionally involved. I accept the situation for what it is. I recognize the fact that its frustrating for not only me but for who knows how many people. But Im not wearing that s–t as like theres something wrong with me or like Im a failure, or like those things that Id do in the past. And its easy to fall into that trap, because you have so many people that are critiquing you and have an opinion of you, and that is what it is. But this year its been a lot more even-keeled for me and just being focused on what I can control. You gotta accept life as it happens, because the more you fight it, the more frustrated youre going to be, the more exhausted youre going to be, and I just play the cards Im dealt and try to keep moving and do the best I can.

Q: How would you describe Kelseys on-court mentality?

A: Fierce. Competitive. But over the years grown into a calmer presence, more centered presence, unflappable.

Q: What would you say drives you?

A: Just being somebody that is an impactful person. Whether it be if people are inspired by the way I play, or whether its my story or things Ive been through in life or things that I may say when I speak. Just trying to be a person that makes the world a better place, makes people feel better, feel stronger, feel like more inspired or even just safe like from being around me … being somebody that when given the opportunity is gonna impact somebodys life in a positive way whether I know it or not.

Q: In August 2022, you tweeted: We live in the age of miracles and youre looking at one.

A: If you just look at alcoholism and addiction, theres not many people that are able to turn their lives around, to remain sober, and not only to remain sober but turn into a source of hope or inspiration for a lot of people like that. Its just not a common thing. You can look at all types of statistics at the lives of people and see that, so I recognize that Im kind of playing with house money as far as life is concerned. I never thought Id be in this position. I never thought Id be in the league period, much less eight years, or having years where I was very successful … very grateful to be here, bro (laugh).

Giants_Darren_Waller_harnesses_family_driven_talent_as_possible_post_football_career 5Darren Waller (12) celebrates with safety Jason Pinnock (27) after the Giants defeated the Washington Commanders 14-7 at MetLife Stadium. Bill Kostroun/New York PostQ: Music has been a big impact in your life.

A: Music is definitely in my blood from my great grandfather Fats Waller. My parents had me play the piano when I was like a toddler, and I was in like band as a kid growing up through like middle school. After middle school I didnt do anything musically until probably after college, which was like when I really learned about who my great grandfather was and his impact and kind of realizing like I am musically inclined, and I wanted to just kind of figure out what my own journey was in that.

Q: What are you doing music-wise these days?

A: Im recording, Im making beats, Im singing. Ill have new stuff that Im releasing in January and into February. So Im just continuing to create, continuing to enjoy the process because its my favorite thing to do.

Q: Does it relax you? Is it an escape for you?

A: It just brings me immense joy. Not many things can in this life. When I create, when Im coming up with an idea, when a song is coming together, there arent very many better feelings for me in my life than when it comes to that, so I just do it because I love it (laugh).

Q: Do you have a studio near you?

A: I go to a studio in Hudson Yards. Friday nights are usually my night. Its not every Friday, once at least every couple of weeks Ill be over there, but as far as making beats, as long as I got my laptop, I can make beats anywhere on Gods green earth. Ideas are always coming to me at random times, random places. Its a continuous process.

Q: Do you have any common themes or common threads in your music?

A: Yeah, its just about anything real-life that I experience, that I think, that I feel, from whether it be overcoming, whether it be dealing with dark times, whether feeling triumphant, feeling confident in yourself. Im all over the place. All my songs are going to sound a little bit different because I listen to a lot of different genres of music, and I experience a lot of different emotions and just life events.

Q: A post-football career?

A: Potentially. If nobody ever paid me a dollar for doing this, I would gladly be doing it. So if that were to turn into some type of career possibility, Id be all for it. But if it doesnt, that doesnt make or break me or the reason why I create. Id do it if nobody knew I did it, I never made a dollar for it.

Q: What is the most bothersome or unfair criticism youve heard?

A: Ill probably say back when I was in trouble and stuff and people were like calling you a drug addict and s–t, I guess that bothered me back then. But as far as now, theres not much criticism thats really bothered me. I feel like people know the caliber of player Ive shown that I am and what Ive been able to do, so any type of opinion or anything somebody says about me being hurt, thats s fact, Im not going to be torn up about that.

Q: What is Christmas 2023 going to be like?

A: I dont think theres anything material like gift-wise I could possibly want at this point in my life. Its more so about the experiences and time with people that I have close relationships with.

Giants_Darren_Waller_harnesses_family_driven_talent_as_possible_post_football_career 5Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) makes a catch during practice at the Quest Diagnostics center on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTQ: What do you think Christmas Day in Philadelphia is going to be like?

A: Itll probably be a little chilly, probably be a little hectic, a little louder than most Christmases. … Itll be fun. Who knows how many Giants-Eagles games that I watched as a kid? Watching with my dad, his favorite team was the Giants. Itll be a much more high-octane Christmas.

Q: Did your dad hate the Eagles?

A: My parents would call the Eagles the pigeons back in the day. They were not Eagles or Cowboys fans.

Q: Your mother was a Washington fan, so what would happen when the Giants played them?

A: My parents would watch it in different rooms.

Q: Where were you?

A: Kind of floating in between, just watching them both be kind of hysterical and best on tables and scream and yell. It was fun to witness as a kid.

Q: Describe your first Christmas with Kelsey.

A: Last year, with my parents, my sister, and my sisters husband, and we were all in Vegas staying at the house that I was renting. We went and got something to eat like a little like breakfast-brunch out on the Vegas strip, and then came back, opened presents, hung out and watched basketball, ate a bunch of food. That was our first Christmas.

A: Im excited for him, man. Hes had an opportunity to step in, and hes made a lot of good things happen with the opportunities that hes gotten. And just being a kid from this area, and being in the position that hes in, thats gotta inspire like a lot of young dudes, young women, whoever that are like this is possible. … He grew up on the street that Im on, went to the school that I went to. Like wherever that is, like his story is a source of inspiration, and it just shows that guys that may not get as many opportunities, but guys are still incredibly talented that he may never even see take the field.

Q: Whats he like in the huddle?

A: Hes calm, confident, poised and acts like he deserves to be out there because he does.

Q: Describe coach Brian Daboll.

A: Intense guy, a guy that wants to create a fun environment for his players, a guy that wants to compete all day long every single day, and that type of energy is contagious.

Q: What have you learned about the New York Giants franchise that maybe you didnt know?

A: You hear that its like family-oriented, and how good people are, and how well ran it is, but I guess until you can be around and be inside the building, you dont really get a feel for it until youre just around people and see how nice and involved Mr. John Maras at practice all the time and always shakes your hand, always says hello to you. They alwaysask if they can do anything for you, take care of your wife, or your family. From what had been achieved in this organization, its one that is trying to do things at the highest level. I feel like when youre good to people and have high standards for excellence and great tradition, I feel like thats the greatest recipe that you could have when running an organization.

Q: What is your message to Giants fans about Darren Waller and his future?

A: There will never be a moment when Darren Waller is not giving everything that he has to try to be a better player, better teammate, better man.

Q: You would sum up this year how for you?

A: A year where I gave it the best I got, through adversity, through frustration, through whatever cards I was dealt. Somebody that still showed up with the same mindset, same purpose.

Giants_Darren_Waller_harnesses_family_driven_talent_as_possible_post_football_career 5Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) stops New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) after a catch during the first half. Robert Sabo for NY PostQ: Do you still believe the best is yet to come?

A: I always believe that better days lie ahead of me than behind me, and Ive had some pretty good days so far, so yeah, that type of mindset and belief will never change.

Q: With all the good the Darren Waller Foundation has done for youth, is there one story or one young boy or girl who impacted you the most?

A: Theres so many people we put through treatment. … Last summer we got to have like a bowling event for a lot of the young people that went through the treatment program and graduated and are back out now trying to build their lives, and a lot of them had tears in their eyes, and they were thankful and sharing details of their stories about how they were on the verge of losing their kids, or they wanted to die. They felt they had nowhere to go, and being able to feel the gratitude from them, thats a really cool thing for me. So its not one person that stands out, but its really just all of em in their own individual journeys.

Q: What are you most proud of today?

A: Just the fact that Im just still trying to grow and improve as a man and just be better to myself. Ive seen plenty of highs and lows. I worked at a grocery store, Ive made millions of dollars, Ive made Pro Bowls, Ive missed games for injury, Ive been traded, Ive been cut. … Ive been through a lot of things that a guy could experience in this football journey or just in a life journey. Ive always been somebody that wanted to please other people, and wanted to show that I was valuable or show that I was OK. … Just focusing on trying to better to myself and have a more loving, compassionate relationship with myself, and that allows me to just love other people and the world around me that much better, because I already got a good source and my cup is full. Im just trying to grow as a man and by growing as a man that means growing on every single part of my life.

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