New England Patriots' Matthew Slater Almost Signed With AFC Rival?

Matthew Slater was a New England Patriot for life but he was dangerously close to signing with one of the team's recurring rivals.

By Geoff Maggliocchetti

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) runs past
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) runs past / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers were nearly stealers of Matthew Slater's New England Patriots immortality.

Slater's career was defined by his exclusivity, as all 239 games of his NFL service saw him don a Patriots jersey. Such perfect attendance is good for the second-most games with a Flying Elvis on his helmet, behind only Tom Brady himself (285).

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) runs past
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) runs past / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The renowned special teams ace disclosed to fellow Foxborough champion Julian Edelman just how close he came to losing that clannishness after the 2017 season on the latter's podcast "Games with Names." Edelman, who likewise spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, could hardly stomach the idea of Slater wearing a new jersey, especially that of one of the franchise's recurring rivals.

"(The Patriots) were going to hardball me in the negotiations," Slater recalled. "I almost had to get out, almost had to pull the emergency chute and get out of there!"

Slater had made it as far as the airport before head coach/general manager Bill Belichick personally called him to talk him into stay.

"Needless to say, I signed back," Slater said with a smirk. The UCLA alum would go on to win the Super Bowl with the Patriots in that ensuing 2018 season, earning the last of three rings. After that, he put up three more All-Pro nominations, giving him five for his career.

This coming season will mark the Patriots' first sans Slater since 2007. Listed as a receiver, Slater manned the Patriots' special team coverages for 16 seasons, amassing 213 tackles between the regular season and playoffs.