Former Super Bowl Champion Retires from NFL
Former Super Bowl-winning cornerback Darius Slay Jr. has officially announced his retirement via a heartfelt Instagram post. This comes just three months after telling the Buffalo Bills he was considering retirement and would not report to the facility. After being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in December of 2025, the Buffalo Bills would use their high-priority waiver to claim him to secure veteran depth for their playoff run. Slay would famously refuse this offer from the Bills, citing personal and family needs for his absence. He would never play a game for the Bills and would enter free agency at the end of the 2025 season, hinting at the possibility of retirement.
Darius Slay has always taken interesting turns in his career, choosing to go to Itawamba Community College out of high school before transferring to Mississippi State. Slay would break out in his senior season, recording five interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and was named to Second-Team All-SEC. He would solidify his draft stock by running an incredible 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. With a breakout senior season, Slay would declare for the 2013 NFL Draft and be selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round as the 36th overall pick.
Slay would spend six years as a Lion, becoming the Lions' undisputed CB1 and even leading the NFL with eight interceptions and 26 pass deflections in 2017. In his time with the Lions, Slay would make three consecutive Pro Bowls, 347 total tackles, 104 pass deflections, 19 interceptions, and his only career sack. Slay secured a bag from the Lions in 2016, preventing him from testing free agency until after the 2020 season. However, Slay would be traded in March of 2020, with one year left on his deal, to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third and fifth round selection. Slay stipulated that he would agree to the trade if he were to be extended immediately, which he was.
The Eagles signed the Mississippi State alumnus to a three–year, $42 million contract extension that included $24.5 million guaranteed and an initial signing bonus of $10 million. The contract would keep him in Philly until after the 2023 season. He would immediately contribute to the Eagles' secondary, recording almost 60 tackles and an interception in 2020 alongside Avonte Maddox. In 2021, Slay stayed as CB1, this time, adding Steven Nelson to the mix. In his five years with the Eagles, Slay would be voted to three more consecutive Pro Bowls, recording 272 tackles, nine interceptions, and four total touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler would also lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX victory, shutting down the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense for almost the entire game.
‘Big Play Slay’ would stay in Philly for another year before being released with one year left on his 2023 contract extension. The veteran corner would sign a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers and play in 10 games, recording nothing but 36 tackles and three pass deflections. Slay was released on December 2nd and was picked up by the Bills’ priority waiver claim the next day. One day after that, he informed the Bills of his decision not to report to the facility as he was contemplating retirement. It wasn’t until March 16th, 2026, that the one-time champion, six-time Pro Bowler, and 2017 leader in interceptions would officially announce his retirement via a heartfelt Instagram post.
