Ex-Eagles CB Darius Slay Named 'Worst Player' at Steelers OTAs

Pittsburgh, PA – June 3, 2025
A stunning report has jolted the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason, with veteran cornerback Darius Slay, formerly a star with the Philadelphia Eagles, dubbed the “worst player” at the team’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs). The assertion, made by ESPN Pittsburgh host Mark Kaboly, has sent ripples through Steelers Nation, casting doubt on the six-time Pro Bowler’s integration into his new squad.

Slay, who inked a one-year, $10 million fully guaranteed contract with the Steelers on March 13, 2025, following his release from the Eagles, was anticipated to bring seasoned expertise to a youthful secondary anchored by Joey Porter Jr. However, Kaboly’s evaluation from Day 3 of OTAs paints a troubling picture. “I spoke with a dozen sources at practice,” Kaboly stated on his radio show. “Consensus worst performer: Darius Slay. Struggled in coverage, looked slow, and missed assignments.”

The 34-year-old Slay, coming off a Super Bowl LIX victory with the Eagles, recorded 49 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and zero interceptions across 14 games in 2024. His signing with Pittsburgh reunited him with defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, with whom he collaborated in Detroit from 2014-2017. Yet, his early OTA struggles suggest a challenging transition, with his age and adaptation to Pittsburgh’s man-heavy defensive scheme under scrutiny.

VIDEO: #Steelers CB Darius Slay called ‘worst player’ at OTAs by ESPN Pittsburgh’s Mark Kaboly. Rough start for the ex-Eagles champ. Yikes 😬
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— SteelCityTalk (@SteelCityTalk) June 2, 2025

Fans are divided on X. “Slay’s washed, what a waste of $10M!” one user fumed, while another defended,