Matthew Slater reportedly staying with Patriots as a full-time staffer
After playing with the team for 16 seasons, Slater is staying with the Patriots in an unidentified position.
Matthew Slater might be done playing football, but he isn’t leaving Gillette Stadium.
The longtime Patriots special team captain has recently accepted a full-time position on the team’s staff, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Sunday. Slater’s exact title is unknown, but he’s serving as Mayo’s “right-hand man” to help with football and team building, according to Reiss.
Slater, who announced his retirement from football in February, was seen hanging around the team when voluntary workouts began earlier in April. He reportedly greeted players as they returned to the facility for spring workouts.
“I didn’t think he was done anyway,” Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers told reporters earlier in April. “So I think this is his way to stay engaged but take the load off of his body, get some more time with the family, but also still be a part of the organization and doing the thing he loves to do.”
Slater and new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo have worked alongside each other for the majority of the last 16 years. The two were drafted by the Patriots in 2008, with Mayo being a first-round pick and Slater getting drafted in the fifth round. Mayo retired from football in 2016 and rejoined the team as a coach in 2019, reuniting him with Slater.
Shortly after his retirement from playing football in February, Slater left the door open to coach.
“I love the game of football. I love everything that it entails,” Slater said on the “Patriots Report” podcast earlier in April. “And as I transition into this next phase in my life, certainly I love being involved however I can — in a way that makes sense for my family and I.”
Slater ended his playing career as one of the most decorated special teams players of all time. He finished with eight All-Pro and 10 Pro Bowl nods, with Bill Belichick referring to him as the best special teams player in the history of the game on numerous occasions.
But Slater’s leadership and character also seemed to leave just as big of an impact on the Patriots. He was well-respected by his teammates, being named a captain 13 times. Ahead of the final game of his career, Slater’s teammates wore a customized hoodie with “Captain 18” on the back during warmups, paying tribute to the longtime Patriots great.
So, the leadership Slater brought won’t be going anywhere and players in Foxborough seemed happy that he was still around for that reason.
“As long as I get to bounce some knowledge off of him and see him around the locker room, having Slate in the locker room, he uplifted spirits and always knew what to say,” Peppers said. “I’m definitely happy we kept him in the building.”
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