Darius Slay calls it a career after 13 NFL seasons

NFL cornerback Darius Slay announced his retirement today via Instagram after 13 seasons in the league. Big Play Slay made a name for himself in Detroit before being traded to the Eagles, where he eventually won a Super Bowl.

Darius Slay posted a hell of a farewell video to announce his retirement:

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A post shared by Darius Slay (@bigplayslay24)

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded for Darius Slay in 2020, the goal was simple: fix a secondary that had become a revolving door. For the most part, Slay did exactly that.

Once he was acquired from the Detroit Lions, Slay stepped in as the Eagles’ clear No. 1 corner almost immediately. At a time when the team had struggled to match up with opposing receivers, he gave the defense a reliable outside presence who could handle top assignments. He wasn’t perfect every week, but he provided stability at a position that had been anything but stable in the years prior.

Slay’s best stretch probably came during the 2022 season, when the Eagles defense dominated its way to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. Playing in a secondary alongside players like James Bradberry and C. J. Gardner-Johnson, Slay was part of a unit that consistently forced quarterbacks to hold the ball and let the pass rush get home.

He also became one of the more recognizable personalities on the roster, both in the locker room and around the team’s younger defensive backs. He and his wife, Jen, instantly became beloved members of the community.

When Slay ultimately signed with the Steelers, it didn’t take long for it to become apparent that he missed his time in Philadelphia. He even totally fucked over the Bills when they claimed him off waivers, refusing to report because he only wanted to play in Philly.

It was a hell of a career, and it’s hard to say where the franchise would be if they didn’t trade for Big Play Slay.