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By Logan Brown
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One of the NFL's quieter storylines has concluded. Darius Slay Jr. announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Slay had publicly been considering retirement since he was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers last season after spending 10 games with the team. He was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills, but never reported to camp after notifying the team that he was considering hanging it up.
There was one team Slay would have continued to play for. The Philadelphia Eagles, for whom Slay played for from 2020 until 2024, were the only team that the six-time Pro Bowl corner would consider playing for again. Recently, in a clip that Slay reposted on social media, he made that stance very clear.
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“No team can call me but the Eagles. No team can call me, everybody knows,” Slay said.
Apparently, that call never came, since Slay decided to call it quits just one day later. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and starred for the Lions for seven seasons. Slay earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2017 after leading the NFL with eight interceptions and 26 pass deflections.
He was traded to the Eagles in 2020 and subsequently signed a contract extension. He made three more Pro Bowls in Philadelphia and played his final game for the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, where he won his first championship as a pro. He was released the following offseason.
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He signed a one-year deal with the Steelers before the sides mutually parted ways in December, and Slay never hit the field again. The 35-year-old corner made his desire to return to Philadelphia known, but a deal never happened.
He took to Instagram to announce the end of his career with a message alongside a video of his career highlights.
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Slay said on Instagram. “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.
“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.”
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