In a recent turn of events, Matthew Slater, the legendary New England Patriots figure, has reportedly become a full-time member of the organization following his retirement at the end of last season.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss was among the first to report this development, citing that Slater has accepted the responsibility of working closely with Jerod Mayo, the freshly appointed head coach for the team.
Patriots legend Matthew Slater has accepted a full-time role with the New England Patriots, per @MikeReiss
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/5JtEuhE7Ne
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 21, 2024
Slater’s new role is described as being the “right-hand man” to Jerod Mayo, who steps into his first season as head coach.
Undoubtedly, Slater’s accolades make him a perfect fit for this crucial position. The source revealed to Reiss that Slater’s primary role would be to assist Mayo in “people development.”
For those who followed the Patriots, Slater’s appointment shouldn’t come as a surprise. He and Mayo share a unique bond, dating back to 2008 when both were drafted by the Patriots.
Even after retirement, Slater’s attachment to the team has been quite evident. Earlier this month, he was spotted in Foxboro as the Patriots jumpstarted their offseason program at Gillette Stadium.
Slater’s involvement with the team raised suspicions amongst his team members, none less than the sharp Safety Jabrill Peppers, who hinted at Slater’s likely new role in the organization.
There were speculative whispers of Slater’s new role, alluded to by safety Jabrill Peppers.
“As long as I get to bounce some knowledge off of him and see him around the locker room, having Slate in the locker room, he uplifted spirits and always knew what to say,” Peppers said. “I’m definitely happy we kept him in the building.”
