As Darius Slay Jr. heads into the 2025 NFL season, he’s gearing up for another year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, the Super Bowl champion cornerback may not be ready to say goodbye to Detroit just yet.
At 34 years old, Slay has hinted at the possibility of returning to the team that helped launch his NFL career: the Detroit Lions.
Slay Opens Up About Potential Future with the Lions
During a recent conversation on Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s podcast, Slay shared his thoughts on what might come next.
“I got one more [year] left,” he said, referring to his current contract with the Eagles. He continued, “You know how that works.
Whatever they want to do. I might re-sign back, hopefully. If I ain’t, then we’ll see what we’re doing.
Because I got one more year for sure.”
While he’s committed to the Eagles for the 2025 season, Slay’s words suggest he hasn’t closed the door on a potential return to Detroit.
A Deep Connection to Detroit
Slay couldn’t hide his affection for Detroit, calling the city his “second home.”
The cornerback emphasized his ongoing connection to the community, saying, “I do a lot for the city still to this day.”
He also reflected on his influence on younger players, recalling how he mentored local talent while playing for the Lions.
“Lotta guys that’s from Detroit that’s in the league was all hanging with me when they was little high school kids. That’s what’s the crazy part,” Slay added.
He mentioned prominent NFL players from Detroit, such as Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets, Jourdan Lewis of the Dallas Cowboys, and free-agent receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, all of whom he trained with back in his Lions days.
St. Brown’s Playful Persuasion
Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t waste time in trying to convince Slay to return to Detroit.
With a playful nudge, St. Brown said, “You already won a Super Bowl, just come back.”
Slay, though focused on his current season with the Eagles, clearly has strong ties to the Lions’ fanbase and the city itself.
Slay’s Impact and Future in Philadelphia
Slay is signed with the Eagles through the 2025 season and will earn $16 million, according to Spotrac.
He was a key contributor to the Eagles’ stellar secondary in 2024, a defense that helped limit opposing quarterbacks to a league-low 174.2 passing yards per game.
Despite not recording an interception for the first time in his 12-year career, Slay still posted 13 passes defended and 49 tackles in 14 games.
While Slay’s prime years may have come in Detroit—where he racked up 19 interceptions in seven seasons—his role in Philadelphia’s defense has been crucial.
And with both the Eagles and Lions entering the 2025 season as Super Bowl contenders, it’s clear that Slay’s future could hold big things, whether it’s in Philadelphia or back in Detroit.
A Tough Decision Ahead
As the 2025 NFL season approaches, Slay’s decision regarding his future could be a pivotal moment in his career.
With strong connections to both teams, it will be interesting to see where he lands next after his current contract expires.
Will Slay remain with the Eagles, or could his next chapter bring him back to Detroit? Time will tell.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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