Steelers' New Cornerback Darius Slay Reveals Which Former Pittsburgh Star Mentored Him

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long 2025 offseason ahead, as Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin look to finally snap the team's long playoff-win drought. With the massive quarterback and offensive woes weighing down on the franchise heavily in recent years, the Steelers haven't been able to come close to competing for a Super Bowl. While the search for a starting quarterback for at least the 2025 season is still in place, Pittsburgh decided to remain aggressive by attacking other positions in need of new additions. The DK Metcalf trade caught the most headlines in Pittsburgh, but their biggest free agency signing was cornerback Darius Slay. 

Slay, the 34-year-old veteran cornerback, is a six-time Pro Bowl selection that has intercepted 28 passes over the span of his 12-year career. Slay just finished five seasons as a crucial member of the cornerback's group with the Philadelphia Eagles, who were recently crowned as Super Bowl champions. In his final year across the state, Slay was given a big task by mentoring two rookie cornerbacks: Cooper DeJean and Terrion Arnold.

In his opening press conference in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Slay reiterated how much he enjoys leading young players. Slay will be joining a young Steelers cornerback group that includes Joey Porter Jr, Beanie Bishop Jr, and Cory Trice Jr., all of whom could use guidance and leadership in 2025. Slay revealed how a certain former star defensive back mentored him in his early days, and wants to offer the same treatment to the guys in the Steel City. 

"That's one of the biggest roles I like to take, just helping mentor younger guys because a guy did that to me," Slay said to Pittsburgh reporters. "I've always gotta return the favor. That's how I do it. I do it with genuine love, not by force. I want them to be great. I want them to be better than me."

Slay revealed that his mentor when he entered the NFL in 2013 was a former safety that spent the first 10 years of his career with the Steelers. 

"Rod Woodson, that was my mentor coming in when I got drafted. I stayed at his house for about a month and a half, learned football from him."

Rod Woodson, one of the greatest defensive backs to ever step onto a football field, had 71 career interceptions and 12 defensive touchdowns. The Steelers needed a veteran like Slay to be able to come in and not only lead the younger players, but also be able to play at a high level himself. 

The Steelers have struggled finding an older cornerback option that can lead in a starting role. Their last attempt in doing so was Patrick Peterson, but his impact on the field wound up becoming limited. With Porter going into his third season, a breakout season is something many fans are hoping to see. Slay will have a huge role in Porter's and the others' development this offseason, and with the way some of the cornerbacks struggled in 2024, improvements need to be made. 

Steelers Could Have Their "Big Three" Starting Cornerbacks Of The Future

While Porter quickly became a star in Pittsburgh after he came up with a huge interception just four weeks into the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens, Bishop and Trice have been limited on opportunities. Bishop was Pittsburgh's starting slot corner for nearly the first half of the 2024 season, until Cam Sutton took his spot once he returned from suspension.

The Steelers also have Trice, who has promising abilities and strong characteristics for a cornerback, but his time on the field has been limited due to a number of injuries. All three are young and can have bright futures with the franchise and Slay can hopefully guide them in the right direction.

What do you think about the new addition of Slay? Would you like to see him bring out his own version of Woodson and become a great leader on the defense? Let us know in the comments below! 

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