Who is Kelsey Plum’s ex-husband, Darren Waller? The newly retired NFL star beat addiction and made a cringey music video about his ex-wife – but why did he risk incurring the wrath of Swifties?

Jun 29 , 2024

Kelsey Plum says she was left “devastated” after her split from NFL player Darren Waller earlier this year. Photo: Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Waller was addicted to oxycodone, alcohol and cocaine, and was suspended both during his college career and from the NFL for failing drug tests – he completed rehab during a year-long suspension

The former tight end recorded a song about the break-up of his relationship with WNBA star Kelsey Plum – but it was the music video that really left the internet scratching its collective head

Darren Waller announced his retirement from professional American football earlier this month after eight seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders (formerly the Oakland Raiders), the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants.

Following a stellar college career as Georgia Tech’s leading wide receiver, per Business Insider, Waller became one of the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends. The last three-year contract he signed with the Raiders was worth US$51 million.

Besides his own sporting career, Waller is now just as famous for being WNBA star Kelsey Plum’s ex-husband. The pair tied the knot in March 2023 and filed for divorce in April, after just one year of marriage.

WNBA player Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces and tight end Darren Waller, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, were married for just one year. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Plum described herself as “devastated” by the break-up. Less than a month later, she set the internet alight twice in two days by appearing in one of Kim Kardashian’s Skims campaigns, then showing up to the Las Vegas Aces’ season opener in an Alexander Wang micro vest with nothing underneath.

As one commentator quipped at the time of their break up: “Darren Waller fumbling Kelsey Plum is one of the biggest fumbles in American history.”

So who is Darren Waller, and how does he feel about his very high-profile divorce? Here’s what you need to know.

Darren Waller overcame addiction to become an NFL star

Darren Waller played for the Las Vegas Raiders before retiring this year. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

According to US media, Waller began using oxycodone at the age of 15, and started drinking at 16. He was high-functioning for a while, but it wasn’t to last. As reported in The Baltimore Sun, Waller was suspended twice while at Georgia Tech – though the drug he was caught using was marijuana.

In 2016 he received a four-game ban from the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He failed drug tests again the following year and, per the NFL website, was suspended for a minimum of one year without pay. By this point, according to US media, he admitted he was doing “a lot” of cocaine.