Eagles CB Darius Slay Opens Up on 'Cordial' Reunion with Coach Matt Patricia

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay recently shared his thoughts on working with his former coach, Matt Patricia.

During the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles experienced significant changes within their coaching staff, particularly at the coordinator positions.

Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen departed for head-coaching roles, leading the team to promote quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator and recruit Sean Desai, a former assistant from the Seattle Seahawks, as the defensive coordinator. Additionally, the Eagles made an somewhat surprising hire to their coaching roster by bringing on Matt Patricia, a former NFL head coach, as a senior defensive assistant.

The hiring of Patricia by the Eagles raised intriguing questions, particularly regarding his compatibility with cornerback Darius Slay, who recently signed a two-year, $42 million contract extension with the team. Slay and Patricia had previously worked together with the Detroit Lions, where Patricia served as the head coach.

During a charity golf tournament in Detroit on Monday, Slay spoke to reporters and mentioned that his recent interactions with Matt Patricia in Philadelphia have been "cordial."

"It's another day at the office," Slay said, via the Detroit Free Press. "We both got the same goal, just going out there to compete and win a championship, so that's the main focus."

The deteriorating relationship reached a point where it prompted the Lions to trade Slay to the Eagles. Reports indicate that Patricia had explicitly discouraged Slay from working out with esteemed cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Richard Sherman, suggesting that Slay's skill level was below theirs, despite his proficiency.

Slay has since silenced any doubt in that regard.

After a successful Pro Bowl season in 2022, Slay played a crucial role in leading the Eagles' defense to a Super Bowl LVII appearance. As the team enters the upcoming season, the Eagles are once again considered a top championship contender.

Sustaining their winning momentum could potentially contribute to maintaining the cordial relationship between Slay and Patricia.

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