Philadelphia Eagles at risk of losing Super Bowl winner Darius Slay to His Former Team Detroit Lions

After securing his first Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, veteran cornerback Darius Slay is already contemplating his future as he enters the final year of his contract.

Slay played a key role in the Eagles’ dominant 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, where their defense stifled Patrick Mahomes and company to claim the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy. While Slay remains a valuable asset, the emergence of young defensive backs like Cooper DeJean—who recorded a highlight-reel pick-six—and Quinyon Mitchell could make his spot on the roster less certain.

With salary cap constraints in play, the Eagles may need to restructure Slay’s contract or even consider releasing him. The 34-year-old is entering the final year of his three-year, $42 million deal, which includes $16 million for the upcoming season, per Spotrac. Speaking on the St. Brown Podcast, Slay hinted at the possibility of rejoining the Detroit Lions, where he began his NFL career.

“I’ve got one more year left, but you never know how things will go,” Slay told Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. “Hopefully, I can re-sign with Philly, but if not, we’ll see what happens. I definitely want to play at least one more year.”

Slay’s Path to Super Bowl Champion

Slay’s NFL journey began when the Lions selected him in the second round of the 2013 draft. Over seven seasons in Detroit, he became a defensive standout, earning three Pro Bowl selections and leading the league in interceptions in 2017.

In 2020, the Lions traded Slay to Philadelphia for third- and fifth-round draft picks. Despite the move, he has always spoken highly of Detroit and remains open to a reunion. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, that’s fine too,” he said. “Philly and Detroit are the two places I’d love to play.”

Slay also gave credit to Detroit’s rich football talent, mentioning stars like Sauce Gardner, Jourdan Lewis, and free-agent wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, whom he trained with during his time in Detroit. “I still do a lot for the city to this day,” Slay said. “A lot of guys from Detroit who are in the league now used to hang around me when they were in high school. That’s crazy to think about. I’ve got a lot of love for that city and went to all the high school games.”

Last season, Slay contributed 49 tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered another in 14 games for Philadelphia. Despite going without an interception for the first time in his 12-year career, he still managed to deflect 13 passes while playing alongside DeJean, Mitchell, and returning Eagle C.J. Gardner-Johnson. His efforts helped the Eagles limit opposing quarterbacks to a league-best 174.2 passing yards per game.

Throughout his career with both Philadelphia and Detroit, Slay has amassed 619 tackles, 28 interceptions—three of which he returned for touchdowns—and five fumble recoveries across 177 games. Whether he remains in Philadelphia or reunites with Detroit, his legacy as a top-tier cornerback is well established.

Tags: Darius Slay