Patriots Matthew Slater: Captain to Coach?

Matthew Slater is keeping all options open as he considers retirement after 15 seasons with the New England Patriots.

FOXBORO -- If New England Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater's playing days on a football field are over, he may still have a place on the sidelines.  

During a recent appearance on Pastor Tim Hatch's Tim Hatch Live, Slater revealed that while he has yet to make a decision on whether to return for his 16th NFL season, he is keeping all options open. 

“I will always consider myself a New England Patriot,” he said when asked if coaching might be a consideration. “If I can serve in the role of a coach or an administrator on the staff, that’s something that I would welcome with open arms. We’ll see. There’s always change in football, so we’ll see what plays out."

Though the 37-year-old may ultimately decide against the physical rigors of another year on the gridiron, he does not sound like a person who is ready to leave the game behind just yet. 

“But I think the Lord has given me so much and taught me so much, it’d be a shame just to end with me. I’d love to continue to pass those things along to the next generation.”

Having spent his entire 15-year career with New England, Slater has become one of the NFL’s most respected players, both on and off the field. As such, he is considered the standard to which his teammates and coaches hold themselves.

Selected by New England in the fifth-round of the 2008 draft, He has earned two first-team All-Pro selections (2016, 2019), three second team All-Pro (2017, 2020, 2021) and 10 Pro Bowl nods, the most by a special teamer in NFL history.

Though the team uncharacteristically struggled on special teams in 2022, Slater still performed at a high level. The 12-time team captain took 84 percent of their special teams snaps, earning 13 tackles: routinely making plays as the Pats special teams gunner, as well as in punt and kick team coverage.

For all of his on-field success, the argument can be made that Slater is as, or even more, respected off the field. The Pats captain takes great pride in his role as a mentor for many of the Pats younger players — not only leading them on the field, but also offering his wisdom and advice away from it.

During the Pats offseason workout programs, Slater is among the team's most stabilizing veteran presences. He is often seen working with both rookies and veterans alike during OTAs and minicamp; sharing his thoughts on a specific alignment in team drills or lightening the mood by flashing a smile during warmups. 

As his appearance on Pastor Hatch's show indicates, Slater is a man of deep Christian faith; a virtue to which he remains most diligent. Whether it be leading a pregame prayer, or simply performing a random wellness check on one of his teammates, Patriots players look to Slater for guidance and support. While always setting the standard on the field, he takes his greatest pride in the spiritual example he sets each and every day. 

Unsurprisingly, Slater's faith will play a significant role when making his decision.

“It’s something that we’re still very much praying through,” Slater told Hatch. “I have to be honest, it’s one of the most difficult decisions of my life. You know you have a passion and a love for something, but things change in life ... So, we [including his wife Shahrzad, and his children] are praying through it. I’m not closing the door, I’m not saying, ‘Yay’ or ‘Nay.’ I’m going to take my time and hopefully hear from the Lord on it.”

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Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots

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