WATCH: Jets' Aaron Rodgers Praises Retiring AFC East Rival
The New York Jets may have ended last year’s disappointing 7-10 campaign by snapping a 15-game losing streak to the hated New England Patriots with a 17-3 victory in last month’s season finale. However, Jets’ star quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not miss the opportunity to show his admiration for a longtime Patriots stalwart.
In a rare showing of détante between the typically bitter division rivals, on-field cameras caught an pregame interaction between the Jets’ quarterback and Pats’ special teamer Matthew Slater, who many believed was about to take the field for the final time.
Cred: USA Today Sports Images
Rodgers, considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, asked Slater if he planned to continue playing.
When Slater — who officially announced his retirement from the Patriots on Tuesday — responded “No,” Rodgers complimented the 16-year veteran by calling him a “Hall of Famer.”
Rodgers would know “Hall of Fame” talent when he sees it. After becoming the Packers' starting quarterback in 2008, In he led them to a victory in Super Bowl XLV (2010), earning the Super Bowl MVP. He was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 2011, and was voted league MVP by the Associated Press for the 2011, 2014, 2020, and 2021 NFL seasons. Rodgers is the fifth player to win NFL MVP in consecutive seasons, joining Peyton Manning, Favre, Joe Montana and Jim Brown — all “Hall of Famers.”
Despite the NFL’s reluctance to enshrine dedicated special teamers into the Hall, Slater has quite the worthy resume. A three-time Super Bowl Champion and 13-time team captain, he earned five first-team All-Pro selections (2011, 2012, 2014 2016, 2019), three second team All-Pro (2017, 2020, 2021) and 10 Pro Bowl nods — the most by a special teamer in NFL history.
While the Jets-Patriots rivalry has its share of pungency over the past two-plus decades, Slater was always an example of sportsmanship from behind enemy lines. Rather than fuel the often scorching tension between both sides, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater could always be counted on to bring a twist of humanity and respect back into the conversation.
"In our case, we've played these guys twice a year every year. It’s always about respect, and we respect the Jets. And, they're not afraid of us," Slater said of the rivalry in 2018. "They don't care what we've accomplished or who people think we are. They're going to play us tough and we expect the same thing."
As for the Jets, the prevailing hope is that Rodgers return from a torn Achilles — which sidelined him for all but four snaps last year’s season opener — will rekindle enough of his “Hall of Fame” magic to lead the team back to contention for a conference title.
