Super Bowl champion Darius Slay has seen it all in this league, so much so that he isn’t interested in seeing much more. The veteran cornerback was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday; however, he reportedly notified the team on Thursday that he wouldn’t report to practice.
Why did Super Bowl champ Slay reject one of the strongest teams in the NFL over the last few years?
Darius Slay Says Life After Football Was Major Factor in Buffalo Bills’ Rejection
Slay has spent 13 years and played for four teams in his NFL career. As his run in pro football progressed, so did his needs and desires, as evidenced by his recent comments about rejecting the Bills’ advances.
The veteran appeared on “Speakeasy” this week, where host Emmanuel Acho asked him whether he wants to go to the AFC powerhouse. Slay responded by mentioning the practical and logistical reasons for not wanting to go there.
“The thing is the fact that I just got out of Pittsburgh,” he said. “I don’t feel like packing up, moving again. I’m 13 years in, like, I did it.”
We put Darius Slay in the hot seat and asked him if he wants to be in Buffalo 👀#billsmfafia #buffalobills pic.twitter.com/hUnWuwUApC
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) December 5, 2025
He did, however, lay out a scenario in which he would’ve been open to the prospect of joining Josh Allen and company up in Buffalo.
“Now, if they caught me at 28, 29, I might, you know what I’m saying?” he continued. “That’s a top organization. They got a lot of great things going, they’re winning, they go to the playoffs, they got a franchise quarterback. So, it wasn’t a bad fit — they just caught me at a bad time, honestly.”
Slay also touched on the conversation that he had with the Bills brass, noting that it was a “neutral” exchange.
“I talked to them. It was just a neutral talk. But I said, ‘Man, I’m 34. I know y’all been watching tape, but I’m trying to relax with my family… And then, on top of that — no offense to Buffalo — it’s cold as hell.”
Buffalo approached Slay to address a secondary that has ranked in the middle of the pack in stopping wide receiver production. The cornerback room consists of Tre’Davious White, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, and Maxwell Hairston, among others.
Slay’s addition would’ve served as solid veteran depth as the playoffs approach. Buffalo started the season on a high note, going 4-0. However, the wheels started coming off after hosting the New England Patriots in Week 5 — going 4-3 since that 23-20Â loss.
It remains to be seen how the Bills fare in the aftermath of Slay’s rejection.
