
A day after revealing the only NFL team he'd even accept a call from, 13-year veteran cornerback Darius Slay decided to officially announce he's done playing altogether.
"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me," Slay wrote as a goodbye letter that corresponded with a video montage of his career highlights that he posted on social media.
"I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5-years-old for an amazing 13 years 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. 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 Big Play 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… BIG play on and off the field! We Out."
Slay's retirement comes after, either jokingly or seriously, being heard saying, "No team can call me but the Eagles" in a clip. Either he was always planning to end his playing days and just wanted to show respect to the franchise he won a Super Bowl with, or Philadelphia's lack of interest in a reunion pushed him over the line.
Darius Slay to retire from NFL after 13 seasons. pic.twitter.com/GzUIjTMUjC
— NFL (@NFL) March 16, 2026
But no matter what happened, Slay, as he said in his letter, will now move to the next chapter of his life off the field.
Retiring at 35, Slay, a native of Brunswick, Ga., and a product of Mississippi State, wraps up his career as a six-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro in 2017 when he was the co-leader for interceptions across the entire NFL and a key piece on the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX championship team.
Slay spent the first seven years of his career with the Detroit Lions after being selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft before being traded to Philadelphia ahead of the 2020 season. He spent his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
Overall, Slay recorded 655 total tackles, 163 pass deflections, 28 interceptions, forced two fumbles, recovered six, scored three defensive touchdowns and even registered a sack in 187 games played and 176 starts. His single-season high in tackles (61) came in 2014 with Detroit, and the most passes he ever picked off in a season was eight in 2017.
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