Darius Slay: A Retrospective on the Eagles’ Pro Bowl Cornerback
Darius Slay, a veteran cornerback for the Eagles, is entering his 12th NFL season and has cemented his status as an elite player. Known for his game-changing plays and interceptions, Slay has earned the nickname “Big Play Slay.” However, he recently hinted that his career might be nearing its end.
In a spring interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro, Slay was asked how many seasons he has left and responded, “not too many.” Despite this, Slay has shown no signs of declining during his time in Philadelphia, though his shift in mindset is understandable given that he is 33 years old.
Slay attended Mississippi State after graduating from high school in Brunswick, Georgia, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He was named All-State by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. In 2008, Slay had an outstanding season, playing both running back and cornerback, rushing for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns.
After spending a few seasons in junior college, Slay debuted for the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2011. He made an immediate impact with three tackles in his first game against Memphis and continued to maximize his limited playing time that season, totaling 23 tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble. His best performance that season was against the Georgia Bulldogs, where he recorded a 72-yard pick-six.
In 2012, Slay had a breakout season as a starting cornerback, recording 40 tackles, five interceptions, another pick-six, 101 return yards on interceptions, a tackle for loss, and 11 pass deflections. His standout game came against Troy, where he tallied six tackles, two interceptions, and three pass deflections. Slay declared for the NFL Draft after the 2012 season.
The Detroit Lions selected Slay with the 36th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, and he quickly made an impact. Over his 12 seasons, he has made the Pro Bowl six times. Slay became a full-time starter in his second season and earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2017 with a league-leading eight interceptions and 26 pass deflections.
After continued success, Slay was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020. With the Eagles, he has maintained a high level of play, earning three more Pro Bowl selections in four seasons. In 2021, he led the league in fumbles for cornerbacks, with two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns and 116 fumble recovery return yards.
Throughout his NFL career, Slay has accumulated 28 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, 147 pass deflections, and 570 tackles, establishing himself as a ballhawk and a playmaker.
As Slay’s perspective on his remaining playing time changes, he is focused on mentoring younger defensive backs on the team. “I’m going to let these young guys eat. That’s what I’m here for, to make sure these guys get there,” Slay told NBC Sports.
This mentorship will be valuable as the Eagles aim to develop their future secondary stars, including recent draft picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Slay also expressed his desire to transition from a full-time starter to a “full-time daddy.”
In the meantime, Slay continues to perform at a high level and will have opportunities to shine, supported by key acquisitions like C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Whether on the field or guiding the next generation, Darius Slay’s impact on the Eagles and the NFL remains significant.
