Star cornerback Darius Slay made headlines when he chose to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers after winning the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
The Steelers, who have been struggling in the secondary, were eager to land the six-time Pro Bowler. But why did Slay decide to join his in-state rivals?
Why Darius Slay Signed With the Steelers
According to Steelers Depot, Slay recently spoke to the media about his decision to sign with Pittsburgh.
“I talked highly, real highly of Mike [Tomlin]. I talked about him a lot on my podcast, and it’s a great opportunity for me to get to work with him,” Slay said.
Slay continued, adding, “I’m looking forward to it. What sold me mostly is just the fact they got some great leaders over there, they got veteran players, amazing players as well on Pittsburgh.”
As is often the case, players are drawn to a team by a mix of factors, including talent and culture, but relationships play a major role. The moment Slay was released by the Eagles, his “great friend,” as he called him, Cam Heyward, wasted no time reaching out to recruit him.
“It was Cam [Heyward] mostly, man. Cam hit me, and I was like, if they call, I’m ready for it. And they called. Talking to Mike T. [Tomlin] on the phone was amazing, man.”
Slay also credited safety Minkah Fitzpatrick as a key factor in his decision to sign with Pittsburgh.
“You see the energy he brings,” Slay said. “He’s a down-to-earth dude. When I first met him when I went down there to sign my deal, it was nice.”
How Will Slay Fit in Pittsburgh?
The Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr. No. 32 overall in 2023 and, while promising, his 17 penalties in 2024 led the NFL. Entering Year 3, he is in need of a veteran presence to help him be more consistent.
Entering his 13th NFL season and with 28 career interceptions to his name, Slay brings experience and leadership to mentor Porter and helps stabilize a secondary that battled communication issues last season.
With Heyward, Fitzpatrick, and veteran pass rusher T.J. Watt still anchoring the defense, Slay should help round out the back end nicely. And it seems he already has the approval of his new teammates.
Slay is eager to get to work this offseason, and with the Steelers also adding cornerback Brandin Echols, their secondary should be significantly improved moving forward.