Matthew Slater Retires from NFL After 3 Super Bowl Wins with Patriots in 16 Seasons

New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater announced Tuesday he's retiring from the NFL.

Slater spent his entire 16-year career with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowl titles and earning 10 Pro Bowl nods along with two All-Pro selections. He was an unsung hero for the Patriots when they reaffirmed their dynastic status in the 2010s.

"As a player, God used the game of football to instruct, discipline, encourage, and develop me as a person," he said in his announcement.

"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."

While officially listed as a wideout, the 38-year-old was used nominally in that role. He caught just one pass for 46 yards for his career in the regular season.

Slater instead built his reputation on being a special teams standout. He totaled 191 tackles and five forced fumbles. In any game against New England, punt returners were well aware he would almost certainly be bearing down on them as soon as they hauled in the ball.

Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick went so far as to say in a June interview with The 33rd Team that Slater is the best special-teamer ever. Others have raised calls for him to be recognized in the Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame voters have been somewhat averse to honoring players who excelled in a special teams role.

Ray Guy is the only punter enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Four kickers (Morten Andersen, George Blanda, Lou Groza and Jan Stenerud) have gotten the honor. In the case of Blanda and Groza, they played positions other than kicker. Earlier this month, Devin Hester became the first player voted into the Hall of Fame as a dedicated return specialist.

Slater's résumé might be impossible to ignore, though, and him getting in could help to open the door for other players in the past who excelled primarily in return coverage.