Veteran Matthew Slater may have played his last game in the NFL, but he won’t admit it.
“Let’s talk about that another day,” Slater told the media. “Just want to thank the guys in that locker room today. So, very appreciative of all the love and support that I received this whole season, certainly today and this week. I’m just proud to be part of that group.
Slater embraced his family before facing the Jets in the Patriot’s regular-season finale. Before the game started, several members of the Patriots organization wore sweatshirts honoring the veteran. Even Robert Kraft was spotted wearing a Slater hoodie.
This is what the hoodie said:
“Son, Father, Husband, Teammate
10 Time Pro Bowl Selection
3 Time Super Bowl Champion
13 Time Team Captain
5 Time All Pro”
After the game Slater said he was blown away by the gesture.
“You know, it’s – it meant a lot. It meant a lot. I was blown away by it. I never wanted anything about my experience here to be about me, so it did make me a little bit uncomfortable,” he said.
Slater, 32, was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The UCLA alum has been a part of three Super Bowl championships and has earned ten Pro Bowl nominations. Slater is a two-time, first-team All-Pro and should be a future Hall of Famer.
After the game, Slater made sure to thank head coach Bill Belichick.
“Without coach, I’m not standing up here talking to you,” Slater said. “He took a chance on me. When I got here, many people thought I got drafted because of my dad. I’m very grateful for that. He’s the best coach that has ever coached this game. Thankful for the 16 years that I’ve had with him.”
The special teams captain spent his 16-year career with the Patriots and accomplished a few accomplishments.
“For a lot of my career, many of you guys thought I was getting cut. I thought I was getting cut, too,” Slater told the media. “To have this fan base embrace me the way they have and appreciate what I do on the field is very humbling.”
Slater is not the only high-profile Patriots player who might’ve played his last game: center David Andrews might also hang up his cleats after his eight-year career.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
