Patriots Star Recalls How Easy It Was for Bill Belichick to Convince Him for a Return

The New England Patriots were not the best team in the 2022-2023 season. Once a team that dominated in the Super Bowls could not rise against the other franchises like the K.C. Chiefs, the Eagles, and the SF 49ers. Therefore, in order to regain the status, New England and its head coach, Bill Belichick, who was looking very stylish recently, decided to bring the captain of the special teams back to the main squad.

Matthew Slater, the Patriots’ wide receiver, is an important special-teams contributor. He rarely plays in the team’s offense. However, Slater returned to the team for his sixteenth season. The team’s owner, Robert Kraft, and head coach expressed that they were ecstatic to have him back on the team.

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Slater, who will be 38 in September, was selected 153rd overall in the fifth round of the 2008 draft and made his league debut there. The UCLA product was once a prospect without a long-term job, but his career has now lasted 223 regular-season games. Slater has participated in 25 postseason contests and has three Super Bowl victories. Twelve times as team captain and ten times selected to the Pro Bowl, Slater. Next month, he was set to become a free agent. But Belichick turned his charm on to convince the receiver to join the team.

Bill Belichick believed in Slater and helped him make an important decision

Belichick had always assured his players and inspired them to become better. And that is what happened when Slater bumped into him. “I bumped into him outside the weight room,” he said. “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 Belichick had told him to retire, he would have listened to him. “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 is the son of Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater, who played 20 seasons with the Rams. Even though we do not know if he plans to play for more years to come, it is known for sure that Slater is still putting his best leg forward.

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