CB Darius Slay Will Only Play In 2026 For Eagles

Darius Slay played 10 games in 2025, doing so as a member of the Steelers. An intra-state move back to the Eagles was his intention upon being waived, but the Bills put in a claim.

Slay declined to report to Buffalo, and as such he finished the campaign on the reserve/retired list. A return to the NFL could be in store for the veteran cornerback. To little surprise, though, Slay will only resume his career if he returns to Philadelphia.

“No team can call me but [the] Eagles,” the 35-year-old said in a clip posted to X. “No team can call me, everybody knows.”

After a seven-year run with the Lions, Slay enjoyed a productive run in Philadelphia. The six-time Pro Bowler was a full-time starter through his five Eagles seasons. He took a one-year, $10MM pact with the Steelers last spring as part of Pittsburgh’s decision to make a number of veteran moves in the secondary. Slay made 10 appearances and nine starts, being held without an interception during that span and allowing a passer rating of 108.0 in coverage (the second-worst figure of his career).

As such, the former All-Pro would likely face a weak market in the event he intended to gauge his suitors across the league. Nevertheless, Slay will focus on either a return to Vic Fangio‘s unit – one which still includes Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean – or his post-playing days. The Eagles also added Riq Woolen in free agency, shoring up the cornerback position. Philadelphia did, on the other hand, lose safety Reed Blankenship on the open market.

If Slay were willing to handle safety duties upon returning to Philadelphia, a 2026 deal may become more feasible. The team currently has $40MM in cap space, so finances would not be an issue if interest on this front proved to be mutual.