Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay explained what contributed to his departure from the Steel City.
The Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with veteran cornerback Darius Slay in a move that was reported to be a mutual decision this week. Slay has since opened up about what exactly led to his departure from the Steel City.
“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 has since been claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills. However, he is now unsure if he wants to continue playing football and will not be reporting to Buffalo.
“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Slay’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN.
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 with the anticipation of him being a starting cornerback for the Steelers this season, but he lost that role, and even lost his slot on the active roster last week.
He started each of the first nine games of the season, but a concussion suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 9 kept him out of the following week’s game. Veteran backup James Pierre replaced Slay, and he played well in his absence.
Tomlin then said that Slay would resume his starting role after coming out of the concussion protocol for the team’s Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears. However, Pierre instead started, with Slay playing just 22 snaps in Chicago.
Last week against the Buffalo Bills, Slay was a healthy scratch while Asante Samuel Jr. was promoted from the practice squad.
Slay spent the last five years 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...
