Philadelphia doesn’t easily fall in love with players despite being the “City of Brotherly Love,” but when it does, it’s loyal, and it’s permanent. That’s why the city lit up the moment Darius Slay – simply known as “Slay” – became available again.
Fresh off a Super Bowl, the Eagles and Slay parted ways, allowing him to travel not too far down I-76 West to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. So far this season, Slay has racked up nine interceptions, three pass deflections and one fumble recovery to complement 28 solo tackles and eight assists.
After 10 games, Slay and the Steelers parted ways, opening the door for a Philadelphia reunion.
Instead, fans’ hearts were crushed once again when Slay signed with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
In his Super Bowl season with the Eagles, he had 14 interceptions, 13 pass deflections and 39 solo tackles.
Clearly, he has no signs of slowing down.
While the Buffalo Bills are struggling with aging players and injuries piling up, the six-time Pro Bowler emits a kind of leadership and adaptability that the team needs to stabilize itself. His veteran presence for the young secondary, with help from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, turned the Eagles’ defense into a terrifying opponent.
Off the field, Darius and his wife, Jennifer, really embraced the communities they were in. His wife was truly one of the fans, immersing herself in tailgates and chatting with fans often on social media. She would frequently post game day outfits and even bring her infamous banana pudding to tailgates and games for fans.
Despite his down year, Slay provides slot versatility, which can neutralize slot receivers. Through 12 games, the Bills surrendered 2,128 passing yards with 12 passing touchdowns given up. Bringing on Slay is a low-cost win, while Pittsburgh eats most of his $10 million deal. His versatility will make him an early impact player.
The Eagles take on the Bills on Dec. 28 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
