New corner Darius Slay wants to bring championship mentality to Steelers

After missing the first day of organized team activities, cornerback Darius Slay roamed the practice field Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, using his time on a rainy day to get to know his new teammates.

Playing for just his third NFL team in 13 seasons, Slay said it was important to show his commitment by attending the voluntary practice.

“This is where it starts,” Slay said. “This is where championship football starts.”

Slay speaks from experience. The 34-year-old cornerback is coming off a Super Bowl win for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 40-22 thrashing of Kansas City represented Slay’s second trip to the title game after he was on the losing end against the Chiefs two years earlier.

A month after he won that elusive championship, Slay signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Steelers, who are trying to recapture some playoff magic after losing their past six postseason games dating to 2016.

The Steelers have four more OTA sessions before they hold a three-day mandatory minicamp, the last on-field work before training camp in late July.

“Everybody has to buy in, and this is the time that you need to be bought in,” Slay said. “Guys have families. I have one as well. You want to be a champion? There are things you have to sacrifice, and this is one of the jobs I want to sacrifice. I want to come here, be on time, be present, let guys see my face, let them know it’s important for me to be here, and I’m here to win.”

Slay, 34, is the latest veteran cornerback signed by the Steelers and tasked with helping them end a drought of playoff victories that extends to 2016. He follows Joe Haden, Steve Nelson, Levi Wallace, Patrick Peterson and Donte Jackson, to name a few.

He also will be the third in as many seasons to line up alongside Joey Porter Jr. in the secondary. The former No. 32 overall pick in the draft, Porter was paired with Peterson (and sometimes Wallace) in 2023 and Jackson last year.

“I told him I used to watch his tape growing up,” Porter said. “I know a lot of guys don’t like when I say that because it makes them feel old. He’s been in the league a long time. He’s a great vet. I’m glad to keep learning from him.”

Slay’s resume stacks up with his predecessors. He was a first-team All-Pro with Detroit in 2017, and he has been named to the Pro Bowl six times in a dozen NFL seasons. Only Peterson had more accolades when he joined the Steelers in 2023.

Peterson, though, was on his final legs when he joined the Steelers. Slay, despite being one of the oldest players on the team, wants to be more than just a role model to Porter and the other young cornerbacks on the team, although it’s a role he readily embraces.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “I’ve been blessed and fortunate to play 13 years. I’m thankful for the opportunity to teach the young guys and help them reach that many years. I want everyone to be successful. I like to take that on my shoulders.”

Slay was quick to ingratiate himself with his new teammates at his first workout.

“I’m one of the guys that I’m going to talk to you,” he said. “I’m not afraid and waiting for you to come talk to me. I’m going to come invade your space for a little bit. It’s learning each other and understanding how it’s done. That’s how you become better teammates, and that’s how you understand each other on the field.”

In his final season with the Eagles, Slay didn’t have an interception in 14 starts. It was the first time since his rookie season in 2013 with Detroit that Slay didn’t get at least one pick. He atoned for that drought by getting one in the Eagles’ playoff-opening win against Green Bay, and he had an NFL-high five pass breakups in the postseason.

Slay had 13 pass breakups in the regular season, four fewer than Porter has accumulated in his first two years in the NFL.

“He gets the ball,” Porter said. “In his Detroit tape, he was a great man coverage guy. He still is, but he also through the years has been a savvy vet at playing off (the line), which is another thing I want to pick his brain about.”

For his part, Porter is looking forward to learning from another proven NFL veteran corner.

“We are going to love to compete,” he said. “I know he’s a competitor. … It’s going to be great having a person like that out there with me.”