Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay during a game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 23, 2025 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
After 13 years in the NFL, former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay has called it a career. The All-Pro CB revealed the news via social media on Monday.
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me. I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful,” Slay wrote. “It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just A kid from Brunswick, GA with BIG dreams…✊🏽
BigPlay on and off the field! We Out.”
The Steelers mutually parted ways with Slay in early December this past season.
“It was a little mutual decision, man,” Slay said on the “Speakeasy” podcast. “Me and [Mike Tomlin] chopped it up. We just thought that was what’s best for us. Much respect to Mike T. and that organization. It just didn’t pan out as it needed to be. It was all good, though. No bad blood with it. He’s a great dude, great coach. He did me the right way, and 13 years in, we had a great understanding.”
Slay was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills. However, he never reported to Buffalo.
While some had speculated that the 34-year-old was hoping to land back in Philadelphia, he said it was completely a personal decision.
“I’ve been missing out a lot of my kids’ activities. Shoot man, mostly it’s a family decision kind of to it. We’ll just see how it goes, though,” Slay continued. “I’m not saying 1,000 [percent], but your boy is on that borderline sitting here.”
Slay was brought to Pittsburgh in 2025 with the anticipation of him being a starting cornerback for the Steelers, but he lost that role, and even lost his slot on the active roster in November.
Slay spent the five previous seasons with the Eagles as a starting outside cornerback. He started 14 games for Philly last regular season, plus another four on the Eagles’ run to their Super Bowl LIX championship. He finished the regular season with 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, 13 passes defended and one forced fumble. Slay also had an interception in the Eagles’ Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers.
Slay came to the Eagles in 2020, when current Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl was the Philadelphia vice president of player personnel.
Before his time with Philly, Slay spent seven seasons with the Detroit Lions, who selected him out of Mississippi State in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Slay has been a six-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro with the Lions in 2017, when he led the NFL in interceptions.
Aaron Becker contributed.
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