“Matthew Slater, Former New England Patriots Star, Expresses Disappointment with Media’s Depiction of Bill Belichick and Discusses Reasons Behind Retirement”
Matthew Slater, the longtime special teams captain for the New England Patriots, is looking forward to retirement.
Slater, who holds the second-highest number of games played in Patriots history at 239, announced his retirement back in February after spending 16 seasons with the team. His decision marked the end of an era, especially considering the Patriots’ parting ways with Bill Belichick.
The 38-year-old cited spending more time with his family as the primary reason for retiring. Slater, who has four children with his wife, Shahrzad, emphasized the importance of family in his decision-making process.
“My family was the main reason for that decision,” Slater explained in an interview. “But as an athlete, you understand that things change—physically, mentally, and in life demands. I felt it was the right time to walk away.”
Slater clarified that there was no resistance from the organization regarding his retirement decision.
“No,” Slater affirmed. “Once I made the decision, everyone in the organization accepted it, and it felt right.”
Despite not having the same level of recognition as other Patriots legends like Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski, Slater played a crucial role on three Super Bowl-winning teams and served as the special teams captain since 2011. He was highly respected as a gunner, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections, the most in NFL history for special teams players, and eight All-Pro nods.
With the Patriots undergoing a transition, Slater expressed difficulty envisioning himself playing under a different coach than Belichick, who had been at the helm for 25 years. Jerod Mayo, Slater’s former teammate, now serves as the Patriots’ head coach.
“It would have been hard—I couldn’t imagine playing for another coach professionally,” Slater admitted.
Slater reiterated that his decision to retire was well-timed and mutually agreed upon by all parties involved.
“It was the right time,” Slater affirmed. “Jerod knew that, the Kraft family knew. It was a good time for all of us.”
Regarding recent media portrayals of Belichick in a negative light, especially in docuseries covering the Patriots’ dynasty, Slater expressed disappointment.
“It’s disappointing that he’s been portrayed the way he has,” Slater commented. “There’s a lot of negativity out there. People are complex, and our experiences with Coach Belichick, personally and professionally, are not black and white. Overall, those of us who have had experiences with him are appreciative of what he’s done for us.”
Slater wished for a more celebratory tone to honor their achievements during “The Dynasty” era rather than focusing on the challenging aspects.
Although Slater won’t be playing on Sundays anymore, he’ll continue to serve as an advisor within the organization, ensuring his presence alongside the players and Mayo. The 38-year-old rookie coach’s leadership qualities and ability to inspire are highlighted by Slater as reasons why Mayo is the ideal choice as the Patriots’ new head coach. Mayo had previously served as New England’s inside linebackers coach for the past five years.
“His leadership is the number one thing,” Slater praises Mayo. “He’s exceptionally knowledgeable, versatile, and capable in various aspects.”
Matthew Slater’s contributions to the Patriots over the years transcend mere statistics. Belichick himself referred to Slater as the “best” at what he does on special teams.
“I believe he’s the best at what he does,” Belichick remarked to reporters last season. “He occupies a very unique category, one that isn’t represented in the Hall of Fame … Whether he’s deserving of Hall of Fame recognition is a different matter, one that isn’t within my jurisdiction. However, I can’t envision anyone surpassing him in that position.”
During his last game, New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers even regarded Slater as a Hall-of-Famer during their encounter.
It remains uncertain whether Slater, despite his impressive accolades, will garner enough votes to secure a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Historically, the Hall of Fame has been sparing with its recognition of players primarily focused on special teams, with only four specialists having been inducted thus far. Notably, no player renowned as a gunner has earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with Steve Tasker of the Buffalo Bills being perhaps the most comparable player to Slater.
While the future will reveal whether Slater’s remarkable contributions will be acknowledged in the esteemed halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Slater himself won’t be preoccupied with such thoughts—he’ll be prioritizing family time above all else.
“Our family has made numerous sacrifices throughout my football career,” Slater reflects. “Now, it’s truly an opportunity to connect, create memories, and be intentional about my role as a parent. My family will be my foremost priority in life. I eagerly anticipate being present and making up for lost time over the past 16 years.”
One of the ways Slater is emphasizing family time is through his collaboration with LEGOLAND New York. The Patriots legend, alongside Philadelphia Eagles players Brandon Graham and Parris Campbell Jr., recently celebrated with their families at the inaugural “Pros of Play Day.” Each player’s family participated in various games and challenges, including a blindfolded LEGO model-building activity and a dance-off against a LEGOLAND character.
“We participated in a variety of games and competitions at the park, and it was an absolute blast,” Slater reminisces. “We had an incredibly enjoyable time, and my kids had a blast. The park is promoting a ‘play time off’ initiative, encouraging parents to actively engage with their children, fostering family bonding and creating lasting memories.”
Visitors to the park can take part in the same challenges experienced by Slater and his family as part of the “Day of Play” initiative on Friday, April 26. They are encouraged to join in the challenges and use hashtags #LEGOLANDNY and #PlayTimeOff for a chance to win tickets.
“In essence, the idea of children and parents creating memories through play deeply resonates,” Slater concludes.
