Since the Miami Dolphins signing of tight end Darren Waller, a good deal has been learned about his story both before and after his temporary retirement from football. As the dust continues to settle, one theme remains constant – Waller’s joining Miami had little to do with anything other than offensive coordinator Frank Smith and a longer look at the situation shows why.

Recently, both Waller’s agent Drew Rosenhaus and NFL reporter Tom Pelissero have talked about how the Waller-to-Miami deal came together.

In simple terms, Waller has a renewed desire to play and wanted to do so specifically in Miami. Period. And anyone who has listened to Jon Gruden’s podcast with Waller can tell you – playing in Miami can be best translated to ‘working with Frank Smith again.’

STARK DIFFERENCE IN STATS UNDER SMITH

It’s pretty widely-held that Waller’s best two seasons as a pro came in 2019 and 2020 with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, the two seasons that Smith served as the team’s tight ends coach.

Ironically, Waller’s success ended up being somewhat of a double-edged sword for him.

After the sensational 2019 and 2020 campaigns, Smith was thought of in such high regard that he was hired away from the Raiders to become the run game coordinator and offensive line coach of the Chargers, with a larger role in determining his new team’s offensive strategy.

The Chargers were starting anew with 49ers spinoff Brandon Staley, who was familiar with Smith in their time together in Chicago.

Waller’s play was never the same.

In fact, in his two years working with Frank Smith (2019-2020), Waller easily eclipses the other six NFL seasons he spent elsewhere.

In those two years with Smith and the Raiders, he posted 197 receptions for 2,341 yards and 12 TDs. In the other six seasons of his career (BAL 2015-16; OAK/LVR 2018, 2021-22; NYG 2023) he totaled 153 receptions, 1,783 yards and just eight touchdowns.

INTERESTING READ FROM ANOTHER SMITH

Former wide receiver-turned-analyst Steve Smith Jr. played with Waller in Baltimore, when Smith Jr. was winding down his career and Waller just getting started as a wide receiver out of Georgia Tech.

Smith Jr. wrote a story about his comparative experiences with Waller both in Baltimore and after, in a piece for NFL.com.

It is worth reading and is telling as it relates to Waller and his personality. And even in how it relates to why he probably chose to come to Miami and back to working with Frank Smith – an OC who plays by the player-first culture established by head coach Mike McDaniel.

Smith Jr. wrote that he met with Waller during the season he was suspended from the league for drug violations. Waller was trying to get himself straight and was working in a Sprouts Food Market.

“Wait … This talented guy is stocking shelves? I thought,” wrote Smith Jr., “before quickly realizing it didn’t matter what he was doing. The only thing that mattered was that he had joy and was in a great place. He was motivated and ready for his second chance at life, whether football was part of that picture or not.”

Repeat: The only thing that mattered was that he had joy and was in a great place.

TEAM CULTURE ATTRACTING PLAYERS?

The promise that McDaniel makes it a point of making is that he to tries to give players what they need as both athlete and individual to be the ‘best versions of themselves’ that they can.

To a player like Waller, who’s wondered aloud if he even likes football, it’s the type of environment that may be one in which he can thrive.

It’s a culture that has been established, once lauded and now debated in Miami. Regardless, it may just be an ideal setting — aside from the city of Miami distractions — for a player who has both publicly and privately struggled like Darren Waller.

Maybe in the end, Waller’s story is one of redemption.