Darius Slay Turns Down Bills, Keeps Door Open for Eagles Return - But Family Comes First
Veteran cornerback Darius Slay is at a crossroads - and it’s not just about football. After being released by the Steelers and claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills, Slay made a surprising move: he told Buffalo he won’t be reporting.
Now, the five-time Pro Bowler is weighing his next steps, and yes, a reunion with the Philadelphia Eagles is very much on the table. But if you ask Slay, there’s something even more important pulling at him right now - home.
Slay joined Emmanuel Acho on the “Speakeasy” podcast Thursday and didn’t shy away from the big question: could he be headed back to Philly?
“Oh man, you know, we don't know, man. We'll see, though. We will see,” Slay said with a grin, keeping things open-ended but certainly not ruling anything out.
Slay spent five impactful seasons in Philadelphia before signing a one-year deal with the Steelers. And while his time in Pittsburgh didn’t go as planned - he allowed a 103.7 passer rating when targeted and was ultimately let go - his connection to the Eagles remains strong. Multiple reports indicate that Philadelphia actually put in a waiver claim for Slay before Buffalo landed him, and there’s mutual interest in a potential reunion.
But right now, Slay is prioritizing something even bigger than football: family.
“I’m just telling you the fact, though,” Slay said. “Like I said, man, I had a real big impact with my kid. Me and my oldest son, we've been going through the wars together since peewee.”
His son is wrapping up his senior year of high school - football and basketball seasons included - and Slay’s not ready to miss those moments. He talked about just coming from one of his middle child’s games and how good it felt to be present.
“This is his senior year of football,” Slay said. “He's doing basketball. Then my middle one, I just left his game, and it just felt good to be there, so it would have been a hard time to think about it.”
That emotional pull of home life is strong. Even with the possibility of suiting up again for a team and city he clearly loves, Slay admitted that being back with his family has been grounding.
“Philly is my second home,” he said. “But when I got home the other day, I was like, ‘Shoot, boy, this feels too good to be at the crib.’”
As it stands, the Bills still hold Slay’s rights through the end of the season. If he opts not to play, they can place him on the reserve/retired list. Buffalo, currently sitting at 8-4 and chasing the AFC East crown, is scheduled to face the Eagles on December 28 - a matchup that would’ve had plenty of extra juice had Slay decided to report.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia also enters Week 14 at 8-4, and with injuries mounting in their secondary, the idea of bringing back a veteran like Slay - who knows the system, the locker room, and the moment - makes a lot of sense from a football standpoint.
But for now, Slay’s not chasing schemes or stats. He’s chasing time - the kind you can’t get back. And while an NFL return isn’t off the table, it’s clear that family is the priority.
So the question remains: will we see Slay back in midnight green this season? He’s not saying no.
But he’s also not rushing the decision. And honestly, given everything he’s balancing, that feels like the right call.