A day after suggesting he would only play for the Philadelphia Eagles next season, cornerback Darius Slay made clear on social media he doesn’t plan to play for any team in 2026.
Slay announced his NFL retirement on X on Monday afternoon. The former All-Pro cornerback made the announcement through a letter.
“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 five years old for an amazing 13 years at the highest level,” wrote Slay. “Football was my peace, my joy, everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones, and I’m forever grateful.
“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.”
Slay played his final NFL game with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Slay played 10 contests in Pittsburgh, starting nine of them in 2025.
The veteran cornerback registered 36 combined tackles and three pass defenses.
CB Darius Slay Announces NFL Retirement
Slay is leaving the NFL after 13 seasons with the Steelers, Eagles and Detroit Lions.
The cornerback will likely best be remembered for his Eagles tenure. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls for Philadelphia from 2021-23. Slay also started for the Eagles in 2024.
During that time, the Eagles won two NFC championships and a Super Bowl title.
Slay began his career with the Lions as an early second-round pick in 2013. He became a full-time starter in his second season. Slay experienced his big breakout campaign during 2017 when he made his first Pro Bowl.
The cornerback also earned first-team All-pro recognition in 2017 with a league-leading eight interceptions and 26 pass defenses.
He earned the nickname, “Big Play Slay” for his interceptions and other clutch plays in big moments. Slay intercepted 28 passes in his career, three of which he returned for touchdowns.
Overall, Slay also had 163 pass defenses and two forced fumbles. He returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns as well.
In addition to his accolades with the Eagles, Slay made three straight Pro Bowls with the Lions from 2017-19.
Slay Played Final Game With Steelers
The veteran cornerback ended his Pro Bowl streak during the team’s Super Bowl season in 2024. Looking back now, Slay probably should have retired on top last spring.
But last offseason, he signed a 1-year, $10 million contract with the Steelers.
The tenure ended in disappointment. The Steelers defense significantly struggled in a lot of areas last season. Slay wasn’t the only veteran who experienced disappointing play, but the team made him a scapegoat of sorts.
The Steelers released Slay on December 2.
A day later, the Buffalo Bills claimed Slay off waivers. However, Slay told Buffalo he would not report to the team.
The Bills, though, retained the rights to his contract for the remainder of the season.
Slay’s final NFL game was Pittsburgh’s 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears on November 23. That contest was the first time he didn’t start for the Steelers in 2025.
Slay posted one assisted tackle while playing 20 defensive snaps.
Just before his release, Slay was a healthy scratch for the Steelers on November 30 against, ironically, the Bills.
Former Steelers CB Darius Slay Makes 2026 NFL Intentions Clear