He wasn't a career-long Eagle, but you could argue that he'll be remembered as one. He had quite the run in Philly.
In 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles were a far cry from the organization they are today. They finished that season 4-11 and at the bottom of the NFC East. Since then, they've had five straight winning seasons that included three NFC East Division Titles and two years as runners-up.
There was a culture shift in and around 2020. They drafted Jalen Hurts in 2020, followed by players like DaVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson in 2021. They eventually drafted some defensive stars in the following years and have been off to the races ever since.
You look at the guys who molded this Eagles organization we all see today, and many of them are homegrown. There is one Eagle, specifically, who was extremely integral in shifting the culture in Philadelphia, but wasn't drafted there.
You may be thinking AJ Brown, but as of right now, you could argue that he's not the best for the team's culture. I'm talking about CB Darius Slay, who today had a big announcement regarding his career.
CB Darius Slay Announces Retirement
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) reacts after breaking up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the first half of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesAfter 13 seasons in the NFL, CB Darius Slay officially announced his retirement from the NFL today.
News about Slay circulated even this week, with video footage of Slay saying he'd be willing to come out of retirement for only one team: the Eagles. He said, "No team can call me, but the Eagles."
As previously stated, Darius Slay wasn't always an Eagle. He was traded to Philadelphia after seven seasons with the Detroit Lions. He was traded for a 3rd and 5th round pick. An insane value for what he ended up providing.
He ended up being named to three Pro Bowls in his five seasons with Philadelphia, and played a major role in both their Super Bowl appearance as well as their Super Bowl Victory.
Even though he wasn't bred in Philly, he sure played like it. In 74 games with the Eagles, he tallied 220 total tackles, recovered three fumbles, and intercepted 9 total passes, all while being an absolute dog and tone-setter on the field.
This energy was infectious, too, and just at the right time. He was with the Eagles at an absolutely ideal time to mentor two of the defensive backs in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who will carry the Philly secondary into the future.
The Eagles will forever be better off thanks to the time that Darius Slay spent in Philadelphia.
Eagles Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Eagles. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.