History of Darius Slay in Timeline

Darius Slay is a professional American football cornerback currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft after playing college football at Itawamba Community College and Mississippi State. Slay is known for his skills as a cornerback in the NFL.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

January 1, 1991: Darius Slay Jr. Born

On January 1, 1991, Darius Demetrius Slay Jr. was born. He would later become a professional football cornerback.

Others born on this day/year

2008: All-State Honors

In 2008, during his senior season at Brunswick High School, Darius Slay was named All-State by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a defensive back.

2011: Joins Mississippi State

In 2011, Darius Slay played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team under head coach Dan Mullen.

2011: Nickname "Big Play Slay" Origin

In 2011, upon transferring to Mississippi State, Darius Slay was given the nickname "Big Play Slay" by Bulldogs defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, which Slay has embraced throughout his career.

2012: Second Season at Mississippi State

In 2012, Darius Slay played his second season for Mississippi State, recording 64 tackles, six interceptions, and two touchdowns over two seasons.

March 6, 2013: Pro Day Participation

On March 6, 2013, Darius Slay participated at Mississippi State's pro day, showcasing his skills in front of team representatives and scouts from 30 NFL teams.

May 3, 2013: Knee Surgery

On May 3, 2013, Darius Slay underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

May 13, 2013: Signs with Detroit Lions

On May 13, 2013, Darius Slay signed a four-year, $5.28 million contract with the Detroit Lions.

September 29, 2013: Season-High Tackles

On September 29, 2013, Darius Slay recorded a season-high seven combined tackles and a pass defense in a victory over the Chicago Bears.

December 7, 2013: Torn Meniscus

On December 7, 2013, Darius Slay suffered a torn meniscus during practice, causing him to miss three games.

2013: Drafted by the Detroit Lions

In 2013, Darius Slay was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round (36th overall) of the NFL draft.

2013: Named Starting Cornerback

In 2013, after competing in training camp, Darius Slay was named the starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions by head coach Jim Schwartz.

December 31, 2013: Head Coach Fired

On December 31, 2013, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was fired after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, concluding Slay's rookie season.

September 28, 2014: First Career Interception

On September 28, 2014, Darius Slay recorded his first career interception during a game against the New York Jets, returning it for a 40-yard gain.

December 14, 2014: Interception Against Vikings

On December 14, 2014, Darius Slay intercepted a pass against the Vikings, contributing to the Lions' victory.

2014: Starting Cornerback in 2014

In 2014, Darius Slay was named a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions, alongside Rashean Mathis.

January 4, 2015: First Career Playoff Game

On January 4, 2015, Darius Slay started his first career playoff game, recording one solo tackle and breaking up a pass in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

December 13, 2015: Interception Against Rams

On December 13, 2015, Darius Slay recorded an interception against the St. Louis Rams during a loss.

2015: Starting Cornerback in 2015

In 2015, Darius Slay was retained as a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions, marking another season in his career.

July 29, 2016: Contract Extension

On July 29, 2016, Darius Slay signed a four-year, $48.15 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions.

October 2, 2016: First Career Sack

On October 2, 2016, Darius Slay recorded his first career sack during a game against the Chicago Bears.

2016: No. 1 Cornerback

In 2016, Darius Slay entered training camp as the No. 1 cornerback on the Lions depth chart.

2016: First Forced Fumble Since 2016

In 2016, Darius Slay forced a fumble for the first time during a 27–13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15.

January 1, 2017: Season-High Tackles

On January 1, 2017, Darius Slay collected a season-high eight solo tackles in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

January 7, 2017: Wildcard Game

On January 7, 2017, Darius Slay recorded two combined tackles in the Lions' loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard Game.

September 18, 2017: Season-High Tackles

On September 18, 2017, Darius Slay recorded a season-high eight combined tackles during a win against the Giants.

December 16, 2017: Two Interceptions vs Bears

On December 16, 2017, Darius Slay intercepted two passes by quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in the Lions' win over the Bears and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

December 20, 2017: Pro Bowl Selection

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.

2019: Defensive Player of the Week

In 2019, Darius Slay earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception for a touchdown in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

2019: Third Pro Bowl

In 2019, Darius Slay was named to his third Pro Bowl.

February 2020: Relation to Ahmaud Arbery

In February 2020, it was noted that Darius Slay is distantly related to Ahmaud Arbery, who was murdered.

March 20, 2020: Traded to Philadelphia Eagles

On March 20, 2020, Darius Slay was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and signed a new three-year deal worth $50 million.

2020: Ranked by Players

In 2020, Darius Slay was ranked 92nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

May 1, 2021: Number Change

On May 1, 2021, Darius Slay switched his jersey number from 24 to 2 due to changes in NFL jersey rules.

2022: Super Bowl Appearance

In 2022, Darius Slay reached his first Super Bowl with the Eagles, though they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

2022: NFL Top 100

In 2022, Darius Slay was ranked 77th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

March 15, 2023: Released by Eagles

On March 15, 2023, Darius Slay was released by the Philadelphia Eagles, only to be resigned the next day.

March 16, 2023: Contract Restructure and Extension

On March 16, 2023, Darius Slay restructured the final year of his contract and signed a two-year extension with the Eagles, ensuring his continued presence on the team.

2024: 2024 Season Recap and Super Bowl LIX Victory

In the 2024 season, Darius Slay finished with 49 tackles, 13 passes defended, and one forced fumble. He intercepted Jordan Love during the Wild Card Round and won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.