Heading into 2025, it looks like Matthew Slater will not be on hand in New England’s locker room.
Following his retirement after the 2023 season, the former special teams standout spent last season as a special assistant to Jerod Mayo during Mayo’s first year as head coach. However, the hiring of Mike Vrabel has seen a shift in quite a few positions throughout the building, and it sounds like Slater won’t be back next year.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Slater’s role will reportedly not be carried over under the new coaching staff. As a result, it appears the former captain won’t be a part of things as the club turns the page under Vrabel in 2025.
Mayo said last year that he was excited to have Slater on his staff, primarily to have someone who could both be an advisor and give him honest feedback.
“Slate is on the staff, and I’m happy about that,” said Mayo last May. “We came in together in 2008. Whoever would have thought, and I always joke with them, when we were in that room, rookie minicamp, that he would have a gold jacket one day? Hopefully, he does get that gold jacket. But he’s an advisor for me. All things football and honestly, the things off in the field.”
“He’s a very smart individual, and I would say we see most things the same way. At the same time, I know he’s a guy that would be honest with me. You know, once you put the head coach hat on, it’s hard to find people who are honest with you.”
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
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