Just one day after Darius Slay said he would only come back as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, he decided to make an even bigger announcement.
Slay took to Instagram to stun Eagles fans with his retirement announcement after 13 years in the NFL.
"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me. 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✌🏾"
Darius Slay retires from the NFL
Eagles fans had the pleasure of watching Slay play for them for five years. He made the Pro Bowl in three of those years and helped the team make two Super Bowl appearances with one victory. While in Philly, he racked up 272 tackles, 56 pass deflections, 11 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, four total touchdowns, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
The Eagles have had some great cornerbacks in the last 30 years, including Troy Vincent, Al Harris, Lito Shepperd, and Sheldon Brown. Slay definitely ranks among the most impactful in franchise history, as he was a leader on defense and backed it up with great play.
Even before his time in Philly, he played for the Detroit Lions for seven years, earning multiple Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection. He spent his final season in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills, even though he wanted to play in Philly.
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Eagles fans will forever be grateful for everything Slay did for the city and organization. This term gets thrown around too often, but Slay truly is an Eagle through and through for the rest of his life.