56 Facts About Matthew Slater

Matthew Wilson Slater was born on September 9,1985 and is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the NFL for 16 seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Matthew Slater holds the record for special teams Pro Bowl selections at 10, which he set between 2011 and 2021.

Matthew Slater has been chosen to five All-Pros and won three Super Bowl titles.

Matthew Slater was born in Long Beach, California, to Annie and Pro Football Hall of Fame player Jackie Matthew Slater.

Matthew Slater lettered in football for two seasons at Servite High School in Anaheim, California, where he was teammates with Ryan Kalil.

Matthew Slater was an All-West selection by Prep Star and a three-star selection by Rivals.

Matthew Slater tied for second at the California Interscholastic Federation State meet in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.62 seconds, and fourth in the 200 meters, with a time of 21.39 seconds.

Matthew Slater was selected as the 2003 Orange County Register Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a senior.

Matthew Slater still holds school records in the 100 meters and 200 meters.

Matthew Slater attended the University of California, Los Angeles and majored in political science and history, while playing for the Bruins football team.

Matthew Slater missed the first three games due to a stress fracture in his left leg.

Matthew Slater played in two games but did not make a reception.

Matthew Slater excelled on kick coverage, specializing in big hits on kick returners to help minimize kick return yardage.

Matthew Slater returned 34 kicks for a 29-yard average and 3 touchdowns which tied the lead in the nation and set the UCLA record.

Matthew Slater tied the Pac-10 season record, set by Anthony Davis in 1974.

Matthew Slater was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as the kick returner.

Matthew Slater was selected in the fifth round, 153rd overall, of the 2008 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, who traded up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before drafting Matthew Slater.

Matthew Slater played in 14 games in his rookie 2008 season, returning 11 kickoffs for 155 yards and recording 12 tackles on special teams.

Matthew Slater returned 11 kickoffs for 269 yards, a 24.5 average.

Matthew Slater had a career-high 35-yard kickoff return in the regular-season finale against the Houston Texans.

Matthew Slater played in a reserve role at wide receiver and on special teams coverage units in the postseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.

In that game, Matthew Slater had two kickoff returns for 46 yards and a special teams tackle.

In 2010, Matthew Slater did not record any offensive or defensive statistics and did not return any kicks or punts.

Matthew Slater created a niche as a special teams force, leading the Patriots with 17 regular season special teams tackles.

Matthew Slater returned four kickoffs for 68 yards.

Matthew Slater significantly contributed in the defensive backfield, and started in three games as safety.

Matthew Slater was selected for the 2012 Pro Bowl and the 2011 Pro Football Writers Association All-Pro teams including All-NFL and All-AFC as a special teamer.

Matthew Slater, who became a free agent after the 2011 season, signed a three-year contract to return to the Patriots in 2012.

Matthew Slater was again voted as Special Teams Captain and voted to be the team's player representative to the NFL Players Association.

Matthew Slater had 14 regular season special-teams tackles, which was the second-highest on the team, despite missing four games early in the season due to injury.

On November 26,2014, it was reported that Matthew Slater signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Patriots through the 2016 season.

Matthew Slater, again, was voted All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl at the special teams position.

Matthew Slater was a standout special teams player in 2015.

Matthew Slater earned his fifth Pro Bowl at the special teams position.

Matthew Slater was named First-team All-Pro as a special teamer for the fourth time in his career.

On January 4,2017, Matthew Slater was announced as the winner of the Bart Starr Award, given annually to a player who exemplifies character and leadership on and off the field.

Matthew Slater's father received this honor in 1996, and together they became the first father-son pair to be honored with this prestigious award.

Matthew Slater had a role as special teams captain and successfully called the coin toss before overtime began.

Matthew Slater was inactive for the first four games of 2017, recovering from a hamstring injury.

Matthew Slater was named to a record seven consecutive Pro Bowls, which tied Steve Tasker for the most special teams Pro Bowl honors in NFL history.

On March 20,2018, Matthew Slater re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year contract.

Matthew Slater was named to his eighth Pro Bowl, breaking Steve Tasker's record for the most special teams Pro Bowl honors in NFL history.

On March 13,2020, Matthew Slater signed a two-year contract extension with the Patriots.

Matthew Slater was a standout on special teams once more in the 2021 season.

Matthew Slater ended the year with 11 tackles in the regular season overall all 17 regular season games while adding another two in the Patriots' Wild Card Round loss to the Bills.

Matthew Slater made his tenth Pro Bowl and was a Second-team All-Pro selection for the third time in his career.

On March 14,2022, Matthew Slater signed a one-year contract extension with the Patriots.

Matthew Slater appeared in a large majority of the special teams snaps over the season.

Matthew Slater signed another one-year contract extension on February 17,2023.

When head coach of the Patriots, Bill Belichick, was asked who the greatest player at each phase of the game was, he said that Matthew Slater was the greatest in the special teams department.

On February 20,2024, Matthew Slater announced his retirement from football.

Matthew Slater was a teammate of Mayo for his entire career; both were drafted by New England in the 2008 NFL draft.

In 2013, Matthew Slater was awarded the New England Patriots 11th Ron Burton Community Service Award by owner Robert Kraft for his strong commitment to community service and leadership.

Matthew Slater is one of the team's most active community participants, regularly participating in the team's organized community events.

Matthew Slater was the United Way representative on the New England Patriots and worked with organizations in the greater Boston area to recruit one million volunteers as part of the wider Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism campaign in 2012.

Matthew Slater raised over $60,000 for Samaritan's Purse to assist in their efforts in the Carolinas and Haiti after the devastating hurricane barreled through those regions.