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Former Patriots Coach Opting to Step Away From NFL After Losing Job

By Chris Schad

Jan 13, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; Mike Vrabel addresses media at a press conference to announce his hiring as the New England Patriots head coach at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; Mike Vrabel addresses media at a press conference to announce his hiring as the New England Patriots head coach at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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The New England Patriots coaching staff continues to take shape under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Many are high on Vrabel as he returns to Foxborough after spending eight seasons and winning three Super Bowls with the Patriots in the 2000s. While his leadership has generated plenty of excitement, it also has created anxiety for remaining coaches.

Vrabel has already started putting his own touches on the staff, getting rid of some former Patriot players along the way. But one notable coach that was not retained has decided to step away from the NFL, ending a tenure that lasted 17 years with New England.

Matthew Slater Stepping Away from Patriots NFL After 17 Seasons

Matthew Slater told WBZ News’s Dan Roche over the weekend that he plans on stepping away from the NFL after last season. The 39-year-old served as a special assistant to former Patriots head coach Jarod Mayo last season but was not retained when Vrabel announced his staff earlier this month.

“I’m a dad and a husband, and that is what’s right for me right now,” Slater said at the Boston Winter Ball at the Omni Seaport Hotel on Saturday. “That’s what I’m excited about doing. I’ve put that on hold for a lot of years and that’s what I’m going to do in the near future.”

Slater was a special teams ace for the Patriots, playing all 16 years of his career in New England. A fifth-round pick out of UCLA in the NFL Draft, Slater ranks second in franchise history with 248 career games and was a 10-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro while helping the Patriots win three Super Bowls in the 2010s.

While he wasn’t retained, Slater could still be around the team as Vrabel has established an “open door” policy with former players. Either way, Slater has no hard feelings about the decision and plans to continue supporting the Patriots from afar.

“I’ve had a tremendous experience as a Patriot,” Slater said. “They’ve been nothing but good to me. They allowed me to live out my childhood dream and I’m very thankful for that. I’m thankful for all the Kraft family has done for me and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I’ll always be a Patriots fan and always support the team. Right now, it’s important that I support my family and that’s what I’m going to do moving forward.”

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