Kelsey Plum is one of the brightest stars of the WNBA and is on track to become one of the greatest female basketball players of all time. The Las Vegas Aces star made a great leap in 2022 and had career best numbers in points, rebounds and assists, on the way to the Aces capturing the WNBA title. Kelsey Plum recently tied the knot with NFL Tight End Darren Waller as well. Kelsey Plum’s husband was on the Las Vegas Raiders at the time of the wedding. He has since been traded away. In this post, we will find out more about Kelsey Plum’s Husband. Let’s get started.

Kelsey Plum’s Husband: All You Need To Know

Kelsey Plum’s Husband: Who Is Darren Waller?

Darren Waller is an NFL Tight End who is currently on the New York Giants. He played college football for Georgia Tech and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2015 NFL Draft. In 2018, Darren Waller signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after spending an extended period of time on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. 

How is Kelsey Plum’s husband’s NFL career?

He is a monster on the field. Many don’t know it yet. But if you play fantasy, you sure know who he is. If you had him on your team, he would add you like a beast every week. If you played against him, you would probably remember him all week. This is Darren Waller, TE or tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders. A rising star in the NFL. But also a story of drug addiction and how he overcame it.

When we say monster it’s not just a metaphor for his performance on the field. Waller is 1.98 meters tall and weighs around 115 kilos. He also has speed and good hands.

In his collegiate career with Georgia Tech and early days with the Baltimore Ravens, he was mainly a pass catcher. But since the draft, he has shown good skill as a blocker in the offensive line as well.

Why was Kelsey Plum’s husband drafted so late?

Despite his great physique and solid collegiate career, Waller dropped all the way to the sixth round of the draft. Mainly because he was seen more as a development prospect. But also because in college he had had behavior problems and a lack of commitment and work ethic.

And it is that Darren from the age of 16, had begun his addiction to drugs and alcohol. In his own words, Waller says that where he grew up “he wasn’t black enough.” Being also very smart, he didn’t fit in with either jocks or nerds. This lack of belonging to a group led him to addictions.

In his early years in the NFL, in addition to getting injured, he was suspended twice for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. His attitude showed zero commitment to his team, teammates, or life. He didn’t care at all. He himself admitted to having lived in a “vegetative” state, getting into everything.

How did Kelsey Plum’s husband bounce back?

Kelsey Plum’s husband Darren Waller hit rock bottom during his year of suspension. He decided to rehabilitate. Once he got back on track, he started working in a supermarket stocking products (something that NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner did as well).

From the supermarket, he returned to the NFL. After his suspension ended, he returned to the Ravens’ practice squad. It was during warmups for a game against the Raiders that his career path would change. John Gruden, Coach Chucky, saw him and decided to hire him.

His story jumped to the cameras during the “Hard Knocks” that HBO did about the training camp of the Raiders in the 2019 preseason.

Since then Darren Waller hasn’t looked back. On the field, he became an unstoppable weapon of the Raiders’ offense. He has two consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards in reception. Last year he broke the record of the legendary Tim Brown’s “Mr. Raider” for most receptions in a season by a Raider.

Off the field, Waller also began to make a difference. With the move to Las Vegas, he created a foundation to help young people not fall into addiction problems as he had. He also supports the recovery of those who have fallen.

This is what Darren Waller said: “If my game inspires them, then I want to be remembered as the best player I could have been, because this symbolizes that no matter where you’ve been, no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can always get better and reach your full potential.”

Why is Kelsey Plum’s husband’s story so inspirational?

The NFL and professional sports are full of cases of athletes who, despite being talented and physically gifted, fell due to addictions.

Not all of the NFL’s biggest stars are high draft picks. Waller’s story is very interesting but different. It is that of a star who had to fail on and off the field before he could shine at the top of the league. Darren Waller is a great example of a person who suffered through his life’s demons, faced up to them, and emerged victorious.

Who is Kelsey Plum?

Kelsey Plum is a professional basketball player who plays in the WNBA for the Las Vegas Aces. She was a star for the University of Washington and holds the NCAA all time scoring record. She is also the holder of the record for the most points in a single season. 

After a glittering college career, Kelsey Plum was selected first overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars. Next year, the San Antonio Stars relocated to Las Vegas and changed their name to the Las Vegas Aces. In 2022, The Las Vegas Aces won their first ever WNBA Championship and Kelsey Plum’s play was a big part of the run.

When did Kelsey Plum and Darren Waller get married?

Kelsey Plum married NFL Tight End Darren Waller on March 4th, 2023. At the time of their wedding, they were both sports stars in Las Vegas. Kelsey Plum played for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Plum’s husband Darren Waller played for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, their fairytale future plans were derailed by Raiders coach Josh McDaniels who traded Darren Waller to the New York Giants for a third round pick. 

What did Kelsey Plum say about her husband’s trade?

Kelsey Plum’s husband was traded very soon after his marriage to Kelsey Plum. Despite it being a sad development in their relationship, she was able to find a little bit of humour in it. Kelsey Plum said that her husband Darren Waller was probably traded away to the New York Giants because the Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels wasn’t invited to the wedding.