Is Matthew Slater one of the best Patriots and NFL’s special team players ever?

Slater, who gained fame as a special team player, played all 16 seasons with the New England Patriots. He was part of the team that won three championship titles.

“For the last 25 years of my life, 16 of them as a New England Patriot, I have been incredibly blessed to be able to emulate the man I saw on those fields in Meridian by playing the game that I love so much. I have given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game. Though it is time for my relationship with the game to evolve, the love I have for it will last a lifetime,” said Slater.

His case

Despite being listed on the roster as a wide receiver, Matthew Slater has had an illustrious career as a special teams player. He has only caught one pass in his career: a 46-yard heave from Tom Brady in 2011. However, his impressive record speaks for itself. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl an incredible 10 times; no other special team player has done it, and he has been recognized as one of the best players in the league twice, earning a place on the All-Pro team.

Slater’s contributions to the New England Patriots have not gone unnoticed. He was named to the All-Decade team of the last decade, a testament to his consistent excellence on the field. Furthermore, he was included in the ideal team, “New England Patriots Dynasty,” which was created to honor players who were instrumental in winning all six titles from 2002 to 2019. Clearly, Slater is a true force to be reckoned with on the field, and his legacy as a special teams player will survive for years to come.