{"id":33065,"date":"2024-03-04T10:29:06","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T15:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=33065"},"modified":"2024-03-04T10:29:06","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T15:29:06","slug":"new-england-patriots-matthew-slater-retires-god-used-the-game-of-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/03\/new-england-patriots-matthew-slater-retires-god-used-the-game-of-football.html","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots’ Matthew Slater Retires: ‘God Used the Game of Football’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"matthew<\/a>
New England Patriots\/YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Matthew Slater, a special teams player for the New England Patriots, recently announced his retirement and thanked God for his time in the NFL. He started his announcement with 2 Timothy 4:7, which reads, \u201cI have fought the good fight. I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.\u201d He added, \u201cAs a player, God used the game of football to instruct, discipline, encourage, and develop me as a person. In 2008, I came here as a young man with hopes and dreams. In 2024, I can retire knowing this experience has exceeded any hope or dream I ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slater\u2019s career was marked with success. During his 16 years in the NFL, he\u00a0was<\/a>\u00a0a 10-time Pro Bowl player and served as a team captain for 13 years. Sports Spectrum\u00a0reported<\/a>, \u201cWith 10 appearances, Slater owns the record for most special teams Pro Bowl selections. He spent his entire career with the Patriots after being a fifth-round pick in 2008 out of UCLA and was a team captain for 13 consecutive seasons. He is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Slater and could very well end up in that same select company one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

He thanked his family for their support throughout his career. Slater said, \u201cTo my mother and father, Annie and Jackie Slater: Thank you for committing to raise and support me the way you did. Thank you for instilling in me the importance of faith in Christ and the importance of loving the people around you.\u201d He also shared his gratitude for his wife, Shahrzad, and their children, saying, \u201cThank you for the sacrifice, grace, forgiveness and everything else you did to support my dream and our family. To my children, Jeremiah, Hannah, Noah, and Micah: Thank you for inspiring daddy every day. The five of you have seen me at my very best and at my very worst. Through it all, your unconditional support has bolstered me. I love you all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A post shared by New England Patriots (@patriots)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n