Giants Insider Comments On Darren Waller’s New Number
The New York Giants are coming off an unexpectedly successful season in which they started 6-1, finished 9-7-1, and upset the 13-win Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
In an attempt to improve their anemic passing offense, they acquired tight end Darren Waller, who spent the last five seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
Waller will wear No. 12 in New York, which is a number that is not usually associated with tight ends.
So Darren Waller is going to wear No. 12. Don’t like it. Weird tight end number.
Curious to hear why he chose 12. Assume there is some meaning behind it.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 29, 2023
For many years, tight ends were limited to wearing numbers ranging between 40-49 and 80-89 per NFL rules, but starting in 2021, they were allowed to choose numbers from 1-49 in addition to 80-89.
In his first few seasons, Waller, who is 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, played wide receiver, and as a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens, he wore No. 12.
Ever since 2018, he donned No. 83, but as of now, that number is currently taken by Lawrence Cager, a wide receiver for the Giants.
They had a lack of bona fide threats at the position this past season, as the only player at that position who surpassed 600 yards was Darius Slayton.
In nine games, Waller put up 388 yards and three touchdowns for the Raiders, who won just six games in 2022 despite being expected by many to compete for a spot in the Super Bowl.
The Giants likely won’t be true championship contenders next season, but with quarterback Daniel Jones and star running back Saquon Barkley still in the fold, they will be a tough team to deal with in a very competitive NFC East.