Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Eagles’ Darius Slay ended up loving the trip to Brazil, except for one thing

After apologizing for his comments ahead of the Brazil trip, the only thing Slay didn't like about his time in the country was the playing surface.

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (right) looks on as linebacker Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Jordan Davis stop Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on Friday.
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (right) looks on as linebacker Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Jordan Davis stop Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on Friday.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

After a bit of a controversy, Darius Slay is back from Brazil — and he ended up loving it.

“Brazil was amazing,” the Eagles cornerback said Wednesday on his podcast. “I thought the food was going to be kind of crazy, because you know how it is when you go out of the country, they say don’t use the water, don’t do this, because you don’t want to get sick and that. Actually, the food was great, the weather was amazing, on the bus rides I got to see a lot of great things. Shout-out to Brazil for hosting us, you brought the energy to the stadium as well and we had a great time.”

» READ MORE: Beyond Brazil, the Eagles have global ambitions to grow the NFL in Australia, Ghana, and New Zealand

Slay was one of the Eagles who was most hesitant about the trip going in. Previously on his podcast, he questioned why the NFL was sending them on a 10-hour flight — which Slay said on the podcast he slept through thanks to the lie-flat plane seats — and later expressed worries about crime in São Paulo.

Before the game, he apologized on X and Instagram to Brazilian fans, although X had been banned in the country. Postgame, Slay had nothing but positive things to say about the Brazilian fans.

“The energy y’all bring to the game was electrifying,” Slay said. “It made me feel like I was home, because the Eagles do the same thing, besides boo us when bad plays happen, because Eagles fans can boo you, and I appreciate it. I love Eagles fans.”

Despite his fears pre-trip, Brazil won him over. The only complaint Slay had about Brazil after the trip was about the field, which many fans and former players criticized for being slippery. Slay ultimately wore a pair of cleats a size too big for him and double-knotted them to make sure they’d stay up.

» READ MORE: Why are the Eagles playing in Brazil? You may not like the answer.

“I know y’all play a lot of soccer, so I understand, I should’ve worn my soccer cleats,” Slay said. “Y’all don’t know, your boy played a little bit of soccer when I was young so I’ve got soccer feet, too. The field had the worst conditions because it’s only for soccer... We had to put in big studs in our cleats. We couldn’t wear our regular cleats. We had to wear our stud cleats, and them jawns are heavy.”