Matthew Slater present at the Patriots voluntary training program

Former Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater may be retired from his playing career, but his time in New England is far from over.

Slater, 38, ended his remarkable 16-year career (spent entirely with the Patriots) after the 2023 season. Still, the 10-time Pro Bowler was on hand Monday for the first day of the voluntary off-field training program. New England season, as reported ESPN’s Mike Reiss:

Although it was a voluntary program, some of the Patriots’ most important veteran players were in attendance presenceincluding Kendrick Bourne, Rhamondre Stevenson and Christian Gonzalez.

It’s a momentous day in itself, given that it marks another “first” in Jerod Mayo’s newly installed head coaching tenure. Of course, Mayo and Slater are very familiar, considering they were teammates (and were selected in the same 2008 draft class).

As for Slater’s potential future as a coach, it’s unclear if he will take a more official role. Mayo, in his statement following Slater’s retirement announcement, noted that the former special teams captain “will be great at whatever he chooses to do next.”