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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Zeglinski

NFL fans weren’t surprised Josh McDaniels would spoil Darren Waller’s wedding to Kelsey Plum

Tuesday saw Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders trade away former Pro Bowler Darren Waller. But just about 10 days ago, it seems the head coach crossed a very personal line with the tight end.

According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, Waller was upset that his wedding to Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum earlier this month was leaked in advance in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. McDaniels had apparently told reporters Waller and Plum were tying the knot during media scrums at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

McDaniels was, uh, not supposed to do that! Waller understandably didn’t appreciate the breach of privacy. A little over a week later, while it seems unrelated, Waller is no longer a Raider:

It’s worth noting that the Raiders had been discussing trading Waller for about a year, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He was almost a part of their blockbuster deal to acquire Davante Adams. That makes the timing of Waller’s trade now after McDaniels’ apparent wedding snafu a mere coincidence more than anything.

That said, none of this shines a positive light on McDaniels.

It piles on a harsh NFLPA report card where Raiders players privately disclosed that McDaniels doesn’t listen to his team and keeps them working longer than necessary. The data was gathered sometime during the early parts of the 2022 offseason, which means within an approximate year’s time, McDaniels may have:

  • Alienated his players
  • Led them to a disappointing 6-11 season
  • Seemingly spoiled the wedding news of one of his now-former players

One fact is becoming abundantly clear as McDaniels tries to rebound with Jimmy Garoppolo. He just might not be cut for this head coaching deal — on or off the field.

NFL fans weren't shocked to learn McDaniels would apparently spoil Waller's wedding to Plum

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