HENDERSON, Nev. – Las Vegas Raiders TE Darren Waller was named the recipient of the seventh annual Craig Long Award Thursday, becoming the award's first two-time honoree.
Chosen by a select group of local media and facilitated by the Las Vegas Raiders' Media Relations department, the Craig Long Award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies professionalism and collaboration with the media at large.
Waller, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl last week, enters the regular-season finale with a team-high 98 receptions for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns. He broke Todd Christensen's 34-year-old team record for single-season receptions by a tight end last week and he also became the first Raiders tight end since Christensen to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Waller's 98 receptions rank second on the Raiders' all-time list behind Tim Brown's 104 catches in 1997 and he enters Week 17 with the second-most receptions among NFL tight ends this season. Originally a sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, Waller was signed by the Raiders from the Ravens practice squad prior to Week 13 in 2018.
Long, who passed away in 2007 at age 36, was a valuable member of the Raiders' Public Relations staff from 1997-2004. A native of Iowa, Long fulfilled his childhood dream of working in the front office for his favorite team.
Craig Long Award Winners
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 2020 | TE Darren Waller |
| 2019 | TE Darren Waller |
| 2018 | DE Frostee Rucker |
| 2017 | RB Jalen Richard |
| 2016 | T Donald Penn |
| 2015 | S Charles Woodson |
| 2014 | DL Antonio Smith |
With his selection to the 2021 Pro Bowl, view the top photos of tight end Darren Waller during the 2020 season so far.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrate after connecting on a 1-yard touchdown pass during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrate after connecting on a 1-yard touchdown pass during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) celebrates after making a 5-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) blocks during the regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a 1-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) is congratulated by center Rodney Hudson (61) after making a 1-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a catch during the regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) goes up for a catch during the regular season home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) lines up before the snap during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) celebrates after making a 2-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) celebrates with offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith (72) and tight end Foster Moreau (87) after making a 2-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a catch during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a 3-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a 9-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) heads to the end zone on a 38-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) heads to the end zone on a 38-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a catch during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) celebrates during the regular season away game against the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a 35-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a 35-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) celebrates after making a 35-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) celebrates after making a 35-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
