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 burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie with eight touchdown catches after the New York Giants drafted him in the fifth round of 2019. At Auburn, he was a reliable target known for straight-line speed, but concerns about drops pushed him down draft boards. Slayton possesses a rare blend of size and acceleration that makes him a constant vertical threat, stretching defenses and creating big plays. His production has seen peaks and valleys amidst quarterback changes and offensive shifts. He has repeatedly proven his resilience, re-emerging as a crucial security blanket 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.”
