6 rings and football things: patriots legend matthew slater announces his retirement
Longtime Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater retired from the NFL on Tuesday after sixteen seasons playing, captaining, and gunning down punts in New England.
His former head coach, Bill Belichick, released a statement on the 38-year-old hanging it up (via ESPN's Adam Schefter):
“Matthew Slater deserves every accolade someone could receive. He is a once in a lifetime person, and the best core special teams player in NFL history. His daily, weekly, and yearly work ethic, paved the way for his unsurpassed performance. Matthew is the finest example of what an intense competitor and human being should be. He has been a great role model for the teams players & coaches) that I have coached. Matthew is exceedingly kind, and supremely loved and respected by all his peers. I am one of many who feel incredibly blessed to be his teammate, coach, and friend.”
Belichick drafted Slater in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and helped turn him into one of the greatest special teamers in NFL history. Over his sixteen-year career, Slater turned in eight All-Pro seasons, was voted Pro Bowler ten times, and is a three-time Super Bowl champion.
“As a core special-teamer, [he's] is the best of all time,” Belichick said this past season of Slater's candidacy for the Hall of Fame. “I hope he gets recognized for that.”
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