New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater announced he was returning for a 16th season last week.
When speaking with The Athletic’s Steve Buckley, Slater revealed the moment when he broke the news to Patriots coach Bill Belichick face-to-face outside of the weight room.
“I bumped into him outside the weight room,” said Slater. “I was going out, he was coming. I told him I felt like I wanted to come back and play. And it was very well received. He was excited that I felt that way.
“If Bill had said, ‘OK, it’s time,’ that would have removed all doubt about playing. But he wanted me back. The conversation was all of two minutes, maybe three minutes.”
Slater’s return will be a welcome addition for a Patriots team looking to turn the page on the 2022 season and play at a higher level in 2023. The former fifth-round draft pick has been a tremendous asset for New England, tallying two first-team All-Pro honors and 10 Pro Bowl nods in addition to helping the organization win three titles.
His leadership on and off the field could be key, as the Patriots continue to search for their identity as a team. One thing is for certain: Belichick will be happy to have him back.
