Tag: matthew slater

Special teams legend Matthew Slater’s new full-time role with Patriots revealed

Matthew Slater is back with the Patriots, and here’s what he’s doing full-time

Two months after announcing his retirement from football, Matthew Slater is already back with the New England Patriots with a new gig.

According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the special teams legend is reportedly being described as the “right-hand man” to Jerod Mayo, who is making his head coaching debut in 2024.

Reiss wrote:

One source described his role as a “right-hand man” to first-year head coach Mayo, providing Mayo a sounding board on football and team building, as well as assistance in “people development.”

More Slater is obviously a good thing for the team.

Not only was he one of the most productive players on the field, but he was also one of the greatest locker room leaders in franchise history. The Patriots getting to keep that part intact in a rebuilding year should be considered a big win for the organization.

There’s one major roster building hurdle left to clear at the 2024 NFL draft, where the Patriots hope to mold the next crop of talent in Slater’s image.

Did Jabrill Peppers reveal Matthew Slater’s new role with Patriots?

Matthew Slater might be retired, but he isn’t leaving football entirely

Former New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater may have retired following the 2023 season, but he might not be walking away from football entirely.

He has been seen at Gillette Stadium greeting returning players for the voluntary offseason program. That had many wondering if he’d accepted a different role within the Patriots’ organization.

According to safety Jabrill Peppers, the special teams legend has been in the building as an advisor.

“I’m happy we kept him in the building,” said Peppers, when speaking with media members.

Slater was a key piece for the Patriots throughout the entirety of his career. He made 10 Pro Bowls, as well as being named to the Patriots’ All-2010s Team, and All-Dynasty Team.

Although he may not have a definitive role, Slater’s attendance is undoubtedly an asset for the team. His steadfast presence and football knowledge make him a valuable member of the organization both on and off the field.

Patriots surprised by familiar face to kick-start offseason program

A former Patriots legend was in the building for Day 1 of the voluntary offseason program

New England Patriots players returned to Gillette Stadium on Monday for Day 1 of the voluntary offseason program, and there was a familiar face waiting to greet them upon arrival.

That face belonged to special teams legend Matthew Slater.

The 10-time Pro Bowler officially announced his retirement from football back in February. So what was he doing with the Patriots on the first day of their voluntary workouts?

Many have already taken to social media in hopes that the team has carved out a coaching role for the future Hall of Famer. However, there’s also the possibility that Slater was simply hanging around and supporting the team.

The best case scenario is Slater getting an itch for coaching and choosing to serve in a mentoring role for the Patriots. At the very least, that would mean New England wouldn’t have to say goodbye to the “awww yeah” team breakdowns in the locker room.

Jerod Mayo is already taking inside linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower along for the ride in his first ever head coaching opportunity. Could Slater be next?

Legendary special teamer Matthew Slater reveals he almost left Patriots for AFC rival

If not for a last-minute phone call from Bill Belichick, Matthew Slater claims he almost left the Patriots for a longtime AFC rival

Former New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater revealed he almost left New England and became a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Slater made this revelation on Julian Edelman’s “Games with Names” podcast.

It’s hard to imagine Slater signing with anybody else but New England. He was a staple on the team’s special teams unit and ended up forging a 16-year career with the organization.

Nevertheless, there was a time when his contract was up in 2018, and negotiations were not going smoothly. Slater was probably closer to leaving New England than anybody had realized.

“I almost left,” Slater said. “They were trying to hardball me in negotiations. I almost had to get out of there. I almost had to pull the emergency chute and get out of there.”

A last-ditch phone call from Bill Belichick brought Slater back to the organization.

“I got the call in the airport,” said Slater. “Needless to say, I signed back.”

It would’ve been very strange to see Slater in anything but a Patriots uniform. He ended up being a constant for New England from start to finish and established himself as one of the all-time great special teamers to ever play the game.

Tom Brady congratulates former Bruin Matthew Slater on retirement

Tom Brady paid respect to Matthew Slater after he retired from the NFL.

A fellow California native congratulated former UCLA Bruin Matthew Slater on his retirement.

After Slater retired from the NFL following. terrific run with the New England Patriots, former teammate Tom Brady congratulated him in a post on Instagram.

In the post, Brady said, “A true champion. The best teammate and an even better man. Congratulations on the perfect career.”

Slater caught only one pass in his NFL career, on the receiving end of a Brady pass on Monday Night Football in 2011. The 46-yard catch would be his biggest play on offense, but his contributions on offense do not capture the monumental impact Slater had on the Patriots in the locker room and on the field.

A co-captain with Brady since 2010, Slater was instrumental to the Patriots dynasty of the 2010s, winning three Super Bowls during his tenure. Making plays in the kicking game and at the center of one of the best special teams units of the decade, Slater earned his stripes doing the dirty work.

Today, Slater received recognition from one of his teammates and an all-time great in the NFL.

Social media reacts to former UCLA Bruin Matthew Slater’s retirement

Here is how social media reacted after Matthew Slater, the former UCLA star, retired from the NFL.

The NFL lost an all-time great to retirement on Tuesday. 

Matthew Slater, the former UCLA Bruin and ten-time Pro Bowl special teams player, announced his retirement after sixteen seasons in the NFL, all with the New England Patriots. A fifth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Slater played his career in New England primarily on special teams.

Slater’s illustrious career on special teams earned him five First-team All-Pro selections and helped the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories. A captain of the team and beloved former Bruin, Slater grew up in Anaheim, California, while his father, Jackie Slater, played running back for the Los Angeles Rams. 

Here is what social media had to say about Slater and his potential Hall of Fame-worthy career. 

WATCH: Matthew Slater delivers final emotional locker room speech

The Patriots released a video of Matthew Slater’s final locker room speech, and it’s an emotional watch

It was a day of tributes for New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater on Tuesday.

Reactions of love and support came pouring in from all circles of the football world. The Patriots’ official Twitter account released a video of Slater delivering his final locker room speech, and it will have you feeling all sorts of emotions.

Slater was famous for his locker room speeches. He was the leader and heart of the Patriots for many years, in addition to being a reliable special teams player.

Slater delivered his final speech following the Patriots’ regular-season finale against the New York Jets on January 7. His opening words summed up his feelings right from the get-go.

“I don’t want this to be about me now. But, I just want to say thank you, thanks fellas,” said Slater. “Been a lot of fun, man. And no matter what happened this year, I’m proud to say I was a part of this group, and most importantly, I’m proud to know the men that are in this circle.”

Slater’s absence will undoubtedly be felt throughout the organization, in what has been a changing of the guard for the Patriots in many ways.

For this writer, it’s just another piece of his Patriots childhood hanging up the cleats and riding off into the sunset.

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Patriots QB Mac Jones shouts out Matthew Slater in Instagram post

Mac Jones responds to Matthew Slater’s retirement announcement

New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater officially hung up his cleats on Tuesday, after 16 years of playing in the NFL.

Current and past teammates have been congratulating Slater on social media since the announcement. One of those players is Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who claimed Slater was the “best to ever do it” in a tribute post in his Instagram stories.

Jones and Slater have been teammates for the previous three seasons. The level-headed Slater often showed his support for Jones, especially throughout last season, as the Alabama product struggled. Slater was well-liked by his teammates, and that included Jones.

It’s becoming a common theme this offseason seeing a Patriots mainstay leave in some form or fashion. Bill Belichick parted ways with the organization after the season, and the team recently released Lawrence Guy and Adrian Phillips.

It truly is a new era for Patriots football in more ways than one.

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Legendary Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater shared the most heartfelt message as he announced his retirement

Matthew Slater’s retirement is a major moment for the Patriots.

Perhaps the greatest core special teams player in NFL history, longtime New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater formally announced his retirement on Tuesday after 16 seasons.

The likely Hall of Famer shared a very heartfelt message with Patriots fans via the team’s Twitter (X) account, thanking the fans and so many more for the success he found in his storied NFL career.

As far as core special teamers go, Slater set the standard, and he won three rings with New England after being drafted in the fifth round out of UCLA in 2008.

He spent his entire career with the Patriots, and his retirement coincided with coach Bill Belichick parting ways with the program.

Belichick praised Slater in a very glowing congratulatory note for Slater in which he calls his former player “a once in a lifetime person, and the best core special teams player in NFL history.”

Slater’s retirement is yet another major departure for the Patriots as New England preps for a new era under coach Jerod Mayo.

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Robert Kraft releases statement on Matthew Slater retirement

Robert Kraft released a statement on Matthew Slater’s retirement, after 16 years

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft released a statement on the retirement of Hall of Fame special teams ace Matthew Slater.

Slater, one of the all-time great special teams players, had a decorated career with the Patriots. He officially announced he was hanging up the cleats on Tuesday, in what has been an offseason of change for the Patriots organization.

Reactions came pouring to Slater’s retirement, and that included a statement from Kraft. Slater was a constant for the Patriots in an ever-changing NFL landscape. Now, he will look to embark on the next chapter of his life, which almost undoubtedly includes a stop in Canton.

Kraft released the following statement via the Patriots’ official social media accounts.

It will certainly be different without Slater on the field and in the Patriots’ locker room in 2024. Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end.

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