Big Play Slay lived up to the nickname. And Eagles fans got to celebrate as a result.

The six-time Pro Bowl cornerback announced his retirement on Monday with a heartfelt message.

Acquired from the Detroit Lions in a blockbuster trade in 2020, Slay was part of the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX Championship team as well as the squad that won the NFC Championship in 2022. During his five seasons in Philadelphia, he earned Pro Bowl honors three times, but instilled leadership as a team captain, an honor he earned for the first time in his football career in 2022. It was a moment he didn't take for granted.

"This is probably one of my biggest achievements in my career, honestly," Slay said at the time. "Getting respected by your peers is bigger than anything else. Just for guys to depend on me and have me leading the ship, it feels very important to me. Guys trust in me and believe in me to do my job at a high level and do it the right way."

When he was named a captain for a third time in the Super Bowl season of 2024, Slay remarked that he wanted to "just continue to keep leading and just try to be great and trying to lead us to wins, victories, and hopefully a ring. That's the main thing."

Slay took rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell under his wing as the Eagles led the league in total defense, passing yards allowed, and defensive points allowed on the way to that Super Bowl ring that eluded Big Play for the first 11 NFL seasons.

"I mean, he's just been giving me everything from advice to anything. He's been a huge resource for me," Mitchell said during his rookie year. "He's been like a big brother, you know, somebody who I can lean on, who I can come to about anything on and off the field. So, like I always say – I really appreciate it."

Of course, Slay made his share of big plays while in Philadelphia. He had nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and four total touchdowns. From his rookie season (2013) through the time he left Philadelphia following the Super Bowl year, Big Play Slay – only his grandmother could call him by his first name, Darius – led the league with 163 pass deflections. He was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Week during his Philadelphia tenure and his three Pro Bowl selections are tied for third among all corners in franchise history.

Slay was gregarious, fun-loving, and talkative. He always kept the mood light. But don't be fooled. Slay was a student of the game. He extensively studied opposing wide receivers. When he wasn't talking smack at practice, he would offer advice to younger players based on things he noticed or ask a receiver what he did to get out of his breaks.

After entering the league as a second-round pick of the Lions in 2013, Slay finished his career with the Steelers last season.