Among busy Steelers offseason of big-name acquisitions, don’t forget about Darius ‘Big Play’ Slay

He started the first game of his rookie season and has barely looked back, six times getting named to the Pro Bowl and once making first-team All-Pro after leading the NFL in interceptions.

Brought in almost a month to the day after winning a Super Bowl ring, Darius Slay’s signing was a high-profile move by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So why does it seem as if Slay has slid under the radar throughout summer workouts, training camp and the preseason?

March 10, the day Slay’s signing broke, is less than six months ago, but it seems like six years ago in the context of all the other big-time acquisitions the Steelers have made: Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith …

Heck. Slay isn’t even the biggest name at his own position that his team acquired over the offseason. That would be Jalen Ramsey, whom came in a June 30 trade.

That’s all OK by Slay, the 34-tear-old who started all 18 games (including playoffs) he played for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last season and prefers to be addressed by his surname.

“One thing about me, they know Slay does not have an ego while it comes to that,” Slay said about embracing a more secondary role. “My time of those days (is in the past) — even though I can still compete at a very, very high level. If there’s need for me to do it, I can easily do it and go out here and compete.

“But I have no shame in letting any one of those young guys there be ‘the man.’ My time was a long time, long, long time ago. I have been in the league since 2013. Thirteen years. So I’m just here to assist and help. And if I’m needed at that position of doing what’s needed to be done, I can do it for sure.”

According to the grading of Pro Football Focus, Slay sure can. He graded out as the NFL’s 14st-best starting cornerback in coverage last season. For context, 2024 Steelers starters Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson ranked 65th and 79th, respectively, and Ramsey was 22nd.

Slay’s play, of course, is important, to the Steelers. But management has been open about the fact that it sought Slay as much for his experience and leadership as much as they did for his proficiency in press-man coverage.

“I take pride in that,” Slay said of being the savvy, sage veteran. “I feel like that’s one of my special gifts. And that’s one of my favorite roles of being in this game, just be able to mentor young guys or helping out and sharing my knowledge of the game to make them become a better player. That’s what my job is, too.”

Porter, in particular, has been drawn to Slay. Porter, the son of a former player, has maintained a sense of respect and reverence for those who have played in the NFL for a long time. Porter’s rookie year, he had a future Hall of Famer — one who was a former teammate of his father — in Patrick Peterson. Last season, Porter had another player he had grown up admiring in Jackson.

This year, he has Slay, a player who was drafted when Porter was 12 years old and was All-Pro while Porter was a junior in high school.

“When I first got here,” Slay said, “I even told Joey, ‘Hey, I’m here to help you become the best version of yourself. And whatever you need from me, just ask, I’ll give it to you.’

“I’m not here to hide no details. I’m not here secretly competing against you about who’s going to be the best corner. I ain’t into that. I more want to help him become one of the best in the game.”

It’s been only 5 1/2 months since the Steelers added Slay, who spent his first seven seasons with Detroit. And while he hasn’t brought a “wow” factor as much as Ramsey or invited the publicity of Rodgers or have a Megatron-like body such as Metcalf, Slay has quickly made a positive impression on his new organization.

“Slay is an excellent player, a really smart guy, an excellent cover corner,” assistant general manager Andy Weidl said recently. “He can read (offenses); he’s (a player) that has that wisdom that passes on and passes down. With his willingness to pour into the younger players, Slay’s just tremendous.”