Matthew Slater
39-Year-Old
Free Agent
2024 Receiving Stats
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2025 Projections
Ends storied special-teams career
Slater announced Tuesday that he has retired from professional football.
ANALYSIS
Slater, 38, is calling it a career after 16 seasons in the NFL, all of which were spent with New England as a core contributor on the Patriots' special-teams units. The 2008 fifth-round pick retires with three Super Bowl rings, five first-team All-Pro nods, and 10 Pro Bowl honors under his belt. Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick recently referred to Slater as the best special-teams player in NFL history, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, saying he was glad to have coached the greatest players in all three phases of the game, the others being Tom Brady on offense and Lawrence Taylor on defense.
Slater, 38, is calling it a career after 16 seasons in the NFL, all of which were spent with New England as a core contributor on the Patriots' special-teams units. The 2008 fifth-round pick retires with three Super Bowl rings, five first-team All-Pro nods, and 10 Pro Bowl honors under his belt. Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick recently referred to Slater as the best special-teams player in NFL history, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, saying he was glad to have coached the greatest players in all three phases of the game, the others being Tom Brady on offense and Lawrence Taylor on defense.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matthew Slater See More
It's a new era in New England with long-time coach Bill Belichick out and Jerod Mayo now leading the Patriots. As currently constructed, the team has a long way to go to achieve relevance in a stacked AFC.
With a critical offseason ahead of them, which free agents should the Patriots prioritize re-signing on their path to making it back to the playoffs?
With plenty of choices ahead, what would the perfect offseason look like for the Patriots and their chances at a Super Bowl run next year?
Josh Allen has been a fantasy star this season, and RotoWire's Andrew Laird is expecting him to be extremely popular on Monday night's slate.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2017
2015
2014
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2012
2011
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2009
2008
While officially listed as a wideout by the Patriots, Slater has not hauled in a regular-season pass since 2011. The 2008 fifth-rounder, who turns 36 in September, maintains his spot on the team with his strong special teams play and respected leadership presence.
More Fantasy News
Will play Week 17
Slater (hamstring) is available for Sunday's tilt against the Bills.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play versus Denver
Slater (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday night's game against the Broncos.
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Remains limited to special teams
Slater played all 21 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers.
ANALYSIS
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Remains with New England
Slater signed one-year, $2.62 million deal with the Patriots on Monday, Jim McBride of The Boston Globe reports.
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Suiting up Sunday
Slater (knee) is active for Sunday's contest against the Seahawks.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Lauded following retirement
Slater, who officially retired from the NFL on Tuesday after 16 seasons, was lauded by both Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick following his announcement, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Slater, a 2008 fifth-round pick out of UCLA, went from fearing he'd get cut following his first training camp to becoming what Belichick describes as the best special-teams player in the history of the league. The legendary head coach also labeled Slater, who won three Super Bowls and garnered 10 Pro Bowl nods, as a "once in a lifetime person," while Kraft praised the new retiree's integrity and "high moral character."
Slater, a 2008 fifth-round pick out of UCLA, went from fearing he'd get cut following his first training camp to becoming what Belichick describes as the best special-teams player in the history of the league. The legendary head coach also labeled Slater, who won three Super Bowls and garnered 10 Pro Bowl nods, as a "once in a lifetime person," while Kraft praised the new retiree's integrity and "high moral character."