The New England Patriots are going face-first into the new era.
Jerod Mayo took the reins from HC Bill Belichick, who called the shots for over two decades.
Now, they will also have some new faces in their special teams corps, as legendary special teamer Matthew Slater will no longer be on the premises.
Slater announced his retirement, which was far from a surprise, as he had already been honored by the team in Week 18 last season and had already teased walking away from the game.
Considering that, Belichick shared a heartfelt message to shower one of his favorite players with praise (via 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,” Belichick said.
Bill Belichick statement on Matthew Slater: “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… pic.twitter.com/myW1BeuuDa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 20, 2024
That’s the ultimate compliment coming from a coach.
Slater is one of the greatest special team players of all time, and he should be next in line to become a Hall of Famer as soon as he becomes eligible.
His impact on the team went far beyond the field, as he was a strong presence and voice in the locker room as well, spending well over a decade as one of the team’s captains.
He was instrumental in setting and maintaining the culture and high standards that made the New England Patriots the team to beat in the NFL.
Now, perhaps first-year coach Jerod Mayo will look to keep him around to help him in the transition to this new era of Patriots football.
NEXT:
Tom Brady Reacts To Matthew Slater’s Retirement
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