Matthew Slater begins his first season as a special assistant to the head coach after retiring in February following a 16-year playing career with the Patriots.
Slater originally joined the team as a fifth-round draft pick (153rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA. He was a 13-time team captain and earned 10 Pro Bowl invitations as a special teamer, the most special teams Pro Bowl honors in NFL history. Steve Tasker has the second-most with seven Pro Bowl selections.
The three-time Super Bowl champion played in 25 postseason games, tied for the eighth-most in team history.
Slater ranks second in team history with 239 total games played and is the team's all-time leader with 178 total special teams tackles in the regular season and 23 special teams tackles in the postseason. In 2011, Slater was pressed into action on defense, making three starts at safety and finishing with 10 tackles. He also caught his first and only pass, a 46-yard reception from QB Tom Brady at Miami on Sept. 12.
Slater had 11 seasons with 10 or more special teams tackles since 2000, the most in the NFL during that time.
Slater and his wife, Shahrzad, have three sons, Jeremiah, Noah and Micah and a daughter, Hannah.
