Could Darius Slay be wrapping up his career where it all began? The star cornerback has hinted that his upcoming Super Bowl appearance could mark his final game with the Philadelphia Eagles, and that next season may be his last in the NFL. With potential gaps in the Detroit Lions roster—particularly if Carlton Davis III leaves as a free agent—the Lions could find themselves in need of a seasoned veteran at the cornerback position.
No matter where Slay plays next year, his connection to Detroit remains strong. He spent the first seven years of his career with the team that drafted him in the second round back in 2013. That was until a bitter split with then-coach Matt Patricia led to his trade to the Eagles in 2020. Since joining Philadelphia, he’s added three more Pro Bowl selections to his resume, bringing his total to six.
“I got nothing but love for Detroit,” Slay shared this week in New Orleans, as reported by the Free Press. “The Lions, man, for sure. That’s the team that took a chance on me, a kid from Brunswick, Ga. So it’s always nothing but love.”
He continued, “I root for them every time. I want them to win every game besides the game I’m playing against them in. But yeah man, that’s home. That’s my second home for sure.”
Slay’s affection for the Lions is clear, a sentiment he echoed earlier this season when speaking to Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys. After watching the Lions’ dominant win in Dallas, Slay admitted, “I’m a fellow Lion, too, so I was rooting for ’em, you know what I’m saying? I’m a Detroit Lion, too. They the ones that helped me change my life.”
At just 22 years old, Slay entered the NFL as a rookie in Detroit, and now at 34, he’s a father of three. He also holds the distinction of being the NFL’s active leader in passes defended with 160, and ranks third among active cornerbacks in interceptions with 28.
Even at his age, Slay is playing at an elite level, holding quarterbacks to a 50 percent completion rate and a passer rating of 78.3 on throws in his coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. His contract carries a cap hit of $13.7 million next season.
Slay credits the influence of several “great leaders” in his early days with the Lions, admitting that his rookie season wasn’t without its challenges.
“I had some great coaches, man, Jim Caldwell took his time with me, been patient with me,” Slay recalled. “I had some great mentors on the offensive side with Calvin Johnson, working with him.”
Reflecting on his growth, Slay added, “Once I was able to knock a ball or two down from Calvin, I feel like nobody could get open on me cause Calvin to me is arguably the greatest receiver ever. So once I did that a couple times, I was like, ‘Yeah, nobody can’t catch on me.’”
Could it be? Perhaps Big Play Slay still has some plays left in him for the Lions. Only time will tell.
