Darius Slay played college football at Mississippi State and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
38 Facts About Darius Slay
2.
Darius Slay was named All-State by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at defensive back following his senior season, and was chosen for the Georgia North-South All-Star Game.
3.
Darius Slay rushed for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2008 season, and intercepted six passes with two touchdown returns.
4.
Darius Slay lettered in basketball and was a standout track and field athlete.
5.
Darius Slay was timed at 10.9 seconds in the 100 meters and 22 seconds in the 200 meters.
6.
Darius Slay attended Itawamba Community College before transferring to Mississippi State University.
7.
Darius Slay earned MACJC First-team All-State honors on defense and special teams.
8.
Darius Slay received an invitation to the NFL combine and completed all of the required combine and positional drills.
9.
On March 6,2013, Darius Slay participated at Mississippi State's pro day in front of team representatives and scouts from 30 NFL teams.
10.
On May 3,2013, Darius Slay underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
11.
Darius Slay competed with Chris Houston and Bill Bentley throughout training camp in 2013 for the starting cornerback role.
12.
Head coach Jim Schwartz named Darius Slay the starting cornerback to begin his rookie season.
13.
Darius Slay started the following week, but after struggling he was demoted in favor of Mathis and only appeared on special teams during the Lions' Week 3 victory over the Washington Redskins.
14.
On December 7,2013, it was confirmed that Darius Slay had suffered a torn meniscus during practice.
15.
Darius Slay finished with 34 combined tackles and six passes defended in four starts and 13 games.
16.
Darius Slay entered training camp slated as a starting cornerback, along with Rashean Mathis, but saw minor competition from Chris Houston.
17.
Darius Slay made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Geno Smith, that was originally intended for wide receiver Eric Decker, and returned it for a 40-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
18.
Darius Slay intercepted a pass by Vikings' quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, that was intended for wide receiver Greg Jennings, in the second quarter.
19.
Darius Slay started in all 16 games in 2014 and recorded a career-high 61 combined tackles, 17 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
20.
Darius Slay started all 16 games in 2015 and recorded 59 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
21.
Darius Slay entered training camp as the No 1 cornerback on the Lions depth chart after the Lions opted to not re-sign Rashean Mathis.
22.
Darius Slay sacked quarterback Brian Hoyer for a seven-yard loss in the first quarter.
23.
Darius Slay remained inactive during the Lions' Week 16 loss at the Dallas Cowboys.
24.
Darius Slay finished the 2016 season with 44 combined tackles, 13 passes defensed, two interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble in 13 games and 13 starts.
25.
Darius Slay's performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
26.
Darius Slay became the first Lions player with seven interceptions in a season since Glover Quin in 2014, and the first Lions cornerback to do so since Bruce McNorton in 1983.
27.
Since 2000, Darius Slay is the only player in the NFL to accumulate five tackles, two interceptions and three pass defenses twice in the same season.
28.
On December 20,2017, it was announced that Darius Slay was selected to play in the 2018 Pro Bowl, marking the first Pro Bowl selection of his career.
29.
Darius Slay started in all 16 games in 2017 and recorded 60 combined tackles, a career-high 26 pass deflections, and eight interceptions.
30.
Darius Slay was ranked 49th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
31.
On March 20,2020, Darius Slay was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round and fifth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
32.
On May 1,2021, Darius Slay has pursued the opportunity for another number change from 24 to 2 per the new NFL jersey rules.
33.
Darius Slay was selected to his 4th career Pro Bowl; his first as an Eagle.
34.
Darius Slay reached his first career Super Bowl when the Eagles defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
35.
On March 15,2023, Darius Slay was released by the Eagles, but would be resigned on an extension the next day on March 16.
36.
On March 16,2023, Darius Slay agreed to restructure the final year of his contract and signed a two-year extension.
37.
Darius Slay is second cousins with former Lions teammate Tracy Walker.
38.
Darius Slay is distantly related to Ahmaud Arbery, who was murdered in February 2020.