Patriots' Legend Matthew Slater To Hall of Fame?
FOXBORO — As the proverbial sun sets on the 16-year career of New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater, the debate surrounding his worthiness of induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is about to begin.
While few within the confines of Patriots Nation would argue the contrary, Slater’s place atop the NFL’s elite special teamers during his tenure all but solidify his spot in Canton. Still, there are some who remain hesitant to enshrine players whose resume is almost solely-consisting of contributions made to the game’s third phase.
Within that context, here is a deeper look at Matthew Slater’s case to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
New England Patriots legend Matthew Slater
Cred: Medium.com
Slater’s time on a pro football field was resoundingly successful. 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.
If you already find yourself believing Slater’s resume sounds “Hall-worthy,” you are not alone. In fact, the presence of five first-team All-Pro line items on his curriculum vitae alone nearly make it a forgone conclusion. Of the 87 players in league history who join Slater with five credited first-team nods, only 12 eligible candidates have yet to be granted entry. When combined with his 10 Pro Bowl selections, it becomes clear that the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater has earned his place.
For one, future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers believes Slater should wind up in Canton. Before the teams' regular-season finale last month he told him just that.
Conversely, Slater’s detractors will point to the average nature of his career stat sheet.
In 239 career regular-season games, Slater compiled 191 tackles, 637 total return yards, two rushing attempts for 11 yards, one reception for 46 yards, one forced fumble, one blocked punt and his sole touchdown coming on the recovery of a punt blocked by cornerback J.C. Jackson — in which he scooped the loose ball and ran 11 yards untouched into the end zone.
While those numbers are unlikely to elicit an electric response, it should be noted that the contributions Slater made to the game were based on excellence of execution, rather than numerical dominance. For virtually his entire gridiron tenure — both in the regular-season and the playoffs — Slater’s field positioning on New England’s coverage units was close to flawless. Seldom by happenstance and mostly by design, he routinely placed himself in the proper spot to down a punt or prevent a big-play return. His leadership on the field was the primary reason for New England’s dominant run among the NFL’s top third-phase units. In short, opposing coaches needed to game-plan for Slater’s awareness and prowess on special teams. Players who change the complexity of the games in which they participate are often recognized for such mastery in the form of Hall of Fame enshrinement.
Perhaps the most tangible deterrent to Slater’s candidacy might be the Hall’s selection panel’s reluctance to acknowledge special teamers. At present, there are only three pure “specialists” in Canton – kickers Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen and punter Ray Guy. Earlier this month, Chicago Bears speedster Devin Hester became the first return specialist to earn a spot the Hall of Fame. Hester will be officially enshrined this summer.
While the case for kickers such as former Pats great Adam Vinatieri has gained traction in recent years, there has yet to be a place carved for coverage specialists such as Slater or former Buffalo Bills standout Steve Tasker. If the Hall remains stubbornly steadfast in its reticence to acknowledge deserving special teamers, Slater’s wait for a “gold jacket” may extend indefinitely.
Although the Hall is slowly beginning to consider the value of players like Slater in their nomination criteria, his status as one of the NFL’s most respected players, both on and off the field places him in rarefied air. A recipient of both the Bart Starr Award (2017) and the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award (2021), he is often considered the standard to which his teammates (and even his coaches) hold themselves accountable.
As such, the longtime Pats captain will have no shortage of qualified references. From legendary quarterback Tom Brady — who recently penned Slater as one of the best teammates with whom he’s shared a locker room — to Julian Edelman who has lauded the lifelong Patriot as an “inspiration,” Slater’s list of supporters will read as a “who’s who” of NFL stars.
Yet, his greatest Hall endorsement may be from another ex-Patriots legend, who like Slater, is widely considered to be the best at his position in NFL history: former head coach Bill Belichick.
“I think he's the best that's ever done what he's done,” Belichick told reporters in December 2023. “He's in a very unique category, one that I don't think is represented in the Hall of Fame … But based on what he did during his career and the length of time he did it and at the level he's done it at, I would say this guy's been as productive as has ever been at his position throughout his entire career, which is very lengthy.
“Whether that's Hall of Fame-worthy or not, that's a different subject that I don't have a say in. But I can't imagine putting anybody in there ahead of him at that position."
In the final analysis, Slater’s place among New England football immortals has long since been established. He is absolutely certain to receive a red-jacket enshrinement into the Patriots Hall of Fame in the near future. However, his case for the Canton gold threads — a jacket which has perennially been elusive for special teamers — remains a bit more ambiguous. However, as the Pats legend enters retirement, he would be the first to say that teaching the nuances of the game to the next generation of players, while earning the respect of his teammates are his greatest rewards.
For that, Matthew Slater is, indeed a Hall-of Famer … in every sense of the term.
