The pinocle of the NFL season is this Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59. Although the Detroit Lions season fell short of reaching their ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl, one former Lion still has the chance to win a ring on Sunday.
Former Lions cornerback Darius Slay, who is now with the Eagles, has another chance to win a Super Bowl. Slay and the Eagles were in the same position two seasons ago but fell to Kansas City 36-33. On Monday, during Super Bowl opening night, Slay talked to many media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press.
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During his discussion with Dave Birkett, Slay shared what the city of Detroit means to him, “got nothing but love for Detroit. The Lions, man, for sure. That’s the team that took a chance on me, a kid from Brunswick, Ga. So it’s always nothing but love.” Slay added, “I root for them every time. I want them to win every game besides the game I’m playing against them in. But yeah man, that’s home. That’s my second home for sure.”
Slay was drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. As a rookie, Slay played in 13 games, but was not a full-time starter. However, following his rookie season, Slay was inserted into the starting lineup.
Over his next six seasons in Detroit, Slay earned the nickname “Big Play Slay’ thanks to all the important pass breakups and interceptions he collected. Slay ended his time with the Lions having recorded 262 tackles, 155 pass deflections, 19 interceptions, five tackles for loss, and one sack.
Furthermore, Slay made it to three consecutive Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro once with the Lions. Unfortunately, his time in Detroit ended following the 2019 season. Since then, he has continued to play at a high level with Philadelphia.
In three of his five seasons with the Eagles, Slay has reached the Pro Bowl. Nevertheless, the now 32-year-old corner has not forgotten where his career started.
While it stings that Detroit wasn’t able to reach the Super Bowl, Lions fans can at least root for a former Lion to win one.
