Matthew Slater Hall of Famer: Ex-Patriot's Powerful Advocate

Former New England Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater retired. His former coach Bill Belichick believes he should be in the Hall of Fame.

Matthew Slater retired on Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest players ever at his position. With an impressive resume that includes 10 Pro Bowl nods, five First-Team All-Pro selections, three Second-Team All-Pro honors, and three Super Bowl titles, Slater has certainly made a strong case for himself. However, working against him is the fact that all of his accolades came from his contributions on special teams as a gunner and coverage man, despite being officially listed as a wide receiver. The 38-year-old only caught one pass throughout his 16-year career.

The question remains: will the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee view Slater's contributions as valuable enough to make him the first non-kicking core special teamer in Canton? Only three full-time specialists are currently in the Hall of Fame, and none played Slater's position. However, Slater received a strong endorsement from former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who praised Slater as the best core special teams player in NFL history and advocated for his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Belichick's endorsement holds weight, given his extensive knowledge of NFL history. Although he is not currently on the Selection Committee, many believe he could potentially work his way onto it in the future, especially if he pursues a career in media after coaching. If that happens, there's a strong possibility that Slater could receive Belichick's vote when he becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2029.