Darren Waller: NFL Star Overcomes Addiction and Finds Love with WNBA Champion Kelsey Plum.
Darren Waller is a name that NFL fans are familiar with, especially those who follow the Las Vegas Raiders. But there's more to this tight end than his impressive career in football. Waller's story is one of resilience and determination, as he overcame addiction to become one of the league's top players. And now, he's found love with WNBA superstar Kelsey Plum. Let's take a closer look at Waller's life and career, and how he met his wife.
Waller was born on September 13, 1992, in Landover, Maryland. He grew up in Marietta, Georgia, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. From a young age, Waller had a passion for football. He played school football at Georgia Tech, where he played a wide role.
In 2015, he decided to forgo his final year of qualifying by entering the NFL Draft.
Waller currently plays as a tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL. He has played for the club since around the year 2020, and in the past two years, he has played 27 games, wears the number 83 at the club, and is probably one of their best players.
Waller played for the Oakland Raiders in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, playing a total of 20 games for the club.
However, Waller's career was not always smooth sailing. He has a background characterized by drug abuse and alcohol enslavement. At the age of 15, he began abusing oxycodone, and his addiction rose to the point where he would burn $100 a day on drugs.
He was also a cocaine addict and went too far taking pills in August 2017 in Maryland.
This led Waller to form the Darren Waller Foundation in 2020. The foundation was created to prepare young people to overcome addiction and support their recovery and treatment. Through his foundation, Waller hopes to inspire and empower others who are struggling with addiction, just as he did.
Darren Waller's total assets are estimated to be more than $20 million. The primary source of his salary is a football expert's agreement to play in the NFL. Waller scored a 4-year, $29,800,000 contract in 2018 with the Oakland Raiders, with a typical compensation of $7,450,000 and a guaranteed wage of $10,600,004.
According to Sportrac, the narrow Raiders will have a cumulative gross of $30,779,145 at the end of 2023.
Aside from his playing career, Waller also benefits from endorsement deals. He has been approved for decades with large organizations, for example, Pepsi, Snickers, Wilson, Body Armor and Inscriptagraphs.
Darren Waller Wife: Meet Kelsey Plum
Darren Waller recently made headlines not just for his impressive football career, but also for his marriage to WNBA superstar Kelsey Plum. Plum was the number one overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft by San Antonio Stars. She became a WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces in the 2022 season.
The couple got married in a private ceremony with family and friends. Superstars across the sports spectrum congratulated the newly married pair after they tied the knot. Plum's basketball career has been just as impressive as her husband's football career.
She played her college basketball at the University of Washington, averaging 25.4 points per game in four seasons with the Huskies.
Source: Mckpage.com
