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Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Matthew Slater, who holds the NFL record for most special teams Pro Bowl appearances with 10, announced his retirement on Tuesday after 16 seasons.
“I have given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game,” Slater wrote in a social media post shared by the New England Patriots. “Though it is time for my relationship with the game to evolve, the love I have for it will last a lifetime.”
A message from Matthew Slater. pic.twitter.com/diVYMtAapu
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 20, 2024
Slater, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, was selected by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 draft and spent his entire career with the team. He wondered if he would even make the team coming out of his first training camp, a reflection of his unique role as a core special teams player.
In recent years, former Patriots coach Bill Belichick had referenced Slater as the greatest to play the game in his role, saying he felt fortunate to coach what he believed were the greatest offensive (Tom Brady), defensive (Lawrence Taylor) and special teams players (Slater) in the history of the game.
“In 2008, I came here as a young man with hopes and dreams. In 2024, I can retire knowing this experience has exceeded any hope or dream I ever had,” Slater wrote.
Slater, who called his father his hero, won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and is the franchise’s all-time leader in special teams tackles.
“Dad, you blazed the trail. You set the standard. I hope I followed in those footsteps well,” Slater wrote. “It was never a burden. Only a blessing.”
He played in 239 games with the Patriots, second in team history behind Brady (285). His 25 career postseason games rank ninth-most in NFL history.
Slater, 38, was a team captain for 13 straight seasons, with his postgame speeches in the locker room often referred to by teammates as powerful because of how Slater — a devout Christian — would relate football to life.
“As a player, God used the game of football to instruct, discipline, encourage and develop me as a person,” Slater said.