Richard McCarthy
Cornerback Darius Slay announced his retirement from professional football today. Over more than a decade in the league, Slay built a career as a shutdown corner, a vocal leader, and a player whose personality matched his elite on-field production. He played for the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers during his 13-year career. Slay garnered six Pro Bowl appearances, one All-Pro, and a Super Bowl win.
Slay’s professional career began when the Lions selected him in the second round, pick 36 of the 2013 NFL Draft. He’d play in Detroit from 2013 until 2019. His breakout came in 2017, when he led the NFL in interceptions and earned first-team All-Pro honors. In this time frame, he earned the nickname Big Play Slay. By the end of his tenure with the Lions, Slay had firmly established himself as an elite, shutdown corner and attracted the attention of the Eagles.
Entering the 2020 season, Slay’s career was altered, for the better. He was traded to the Eagles for multiple mid-round draft picks. Slay quickly embraced the culture of Philadelphia, becoming both a leader on the field and a respected voice in the locker room. He and fellow corner James Bradberry helped flip the Eagles’ secondary from mediocre to elite, and within two years, Philly was in the Super Bowl.
Although they did lose this Super Bowl, the Eagles would be back in short order. Slay’s biggest legacy might be his tutoring of Cooper Dejean and Quinyon Mitchell. Both were drafted in the 2024 draft and became high-impact rookies, off the rip.
Slay played a massive part in their development, and keyed an Eagles defense that was top 5 in the league. The revamped secondary led Philly to a Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The impacts of his tutelage are felt even today, with Mitchell and DeJean being widely regarded as elite defensive players, providing a ton of surplus value on their rookie contracts.
Unfortunately, due to cap reasons, Slay would be released from Philly and shipped over to Pittsburgh for his last season in the league. He started 9 games for the Steelers this season, contributing to a playoff run as a part of a veteran defense.
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft After NFL Free Agency Negotiation Window
