The Patriots announced last week that special teams ace Matthew Slater will be returning for his 16th NFL season.
It took him just a two- or three-minute conversation with Bill Belichick to seal the deal.
The Athletic’s Steve Buckley chronicles Slater’s decision to come back in a new feature story. In it, Slater reveals how he arrived at his decision following a grueling campaign. When the Patriots departed Buffalo after their regular-season finale, Slater told reporters he wasn’t sure if he would be coming back.
“I’m thinking about how that game went, the way we performed, especially in the kicking game, and I’m thinking, OK, this is probably the end of the road,” he told Buckley. (The Patriots allowed two kickoff touchdown returns in the loss.)
But then Slater started his five-step process. When deciding whether to play again Slater consulted his faith, body, wife and dad, Hall of Fame left tackle Jackie Slater.
The final step was the coach. Slater bumped into Belichick outside of the team’s weight room, and told him about his intention to keep playing.
Belichick signed off without much of a discussion.
“I bumped into him outside the weight room,” Slater said. “I was going out, he was coming. I told him I felt like I wanted to come back and play. And it was very well received. He was excited that I felt that way.”
Belichick, who compared Slater to Giants great Lawrence Taylor at the end of last season, expressed his appreciation for the 10-time Pro Bowler when the Patriots announced his return.
“Matt’s incredible career is a testament to his preparation and will to succeed,” Belichick said. “We are thrilled he will be playing this season.”
A three-time Super Bowl champion, Slater is one of the last Patriot players with championship experience. It’s apparent that Belichick considers his role to be one of the most crucial on the team.
