Darius Slayton
A speedy wide receiver who overcame a draft-day slide to become a consistent and trusted deep threat for the New York Giants.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American football player·Birthday: January 12·Generation Z
Biography
Darius Slayton's path to the NFL was a lesson in quiet perseverance. At Auburn, he was a reliable target known for his straight-line speed, but concerns about drops saw him wait until the fifth round of the 2019 draft to hear his name called. The New York Giants took the chance, and Slayton immediately rewarded them, bursting onto the scene as a rookie with eight touchdown catches. He possesses a rare blend of size and acceleration that makes him a constant vertical threat, able to stretch defenses and create big plays. While his production has seen peaks and valleys amidst quarterback changes and offensive shifts, Slayton has repeatedly proven his resilience, often re-emerging as a crucial security blanket and a player who delivers when called upon. His career embodies the value of a mid-round pick who develops into a durable, starting-caliber professional.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Darius was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Darius Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Darius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the New York Giants in receiving yards in both his rookie (2019) and sophomore (2020) seasons.
- Recorded over 700 receiving yards in four of his first five NFL seasons.
- Caught a career-long 80-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Jones in a 2022 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Did You Know?
He majored in business at Auburn University.
Slayton ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, highlighting his elite speed.
He was a high school teammate of NFL quarterback Jalen Hurts at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama.
“They said I couldn't catch; I let my play do the talking.”
