Matthew Slater has shifted gears in his position but remains committed to the Patriots. Instead of his former advisory role, Slater has transitioned into a full-time position, as per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Reportedly, Slater will now play a pivotal role as an assistant to the new head coach Jerod Mayo, essentially becoming his right-hand man, according to Reiss.
Both Slater and Mayo entered the NFL draft in 2008, with Mayo as a first-round pick and Slater as a fifth-rounder. Despite being officially categorized as a receiver, Slater is renowned for his extensive tenure as a special-teams captain and an outstanding player.
In this new capacity, Slater will offer insights on football-related matters and contribute to team development and personnel management, per Reiss.
This strategic move appears astute on Mayo’s part, recognizing the importance of reliable and capable assistants for a head coach. With a pre-existing friendship between Mayo and Slater, there’s already a foundation of trust established, likely facilitating their collaborative coaching efforts.