Matthew Slater
New England Patriots Special Teams Captain, Retired
Honorary Doctor of Public Service
Former New England Patriots captain Matthew Slater is considered one of the best special teams players in National Football League history. His legacy of leadership extends to his commitment to changing lives and strengthening communities. In his retirement, he runs the Slater Family Foundation, which supports the arts, culture, humanities, and recreation.
Mr. Slater was born in Long Beach, California, to parents from Mississippi. His father, Jackie Slater, had moved to California to play football for the Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Slater was a standout kick returner at the University of California at Los Angeles and was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. During his 16 seasons with the Patriots, he won three Super Bowls, was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, and was team captain for 13 years. After his retirement in 2024, he worked for a year as a special assistant on the coaching staff.
Mr. Slater’s work on and off the football field exemplifies character, selflessness, and the importance of being a good teammate. He honored numerous times by the Patriots, the NFL, and other organizations for community service. He received the Bart Starr Award, recognizing outstanding character and leadership in the NFL, and the Art Rooney Award, recognizing outstanding sportsmanship on the playing field. The Patriots presented him the 11th Ron Burton Service Award for his commitment to service in the community. Among his notable initiatives was a 2016 fundraiser that raised more than $60,000 for Samaritan’s Purse to assist victims of Hurricane Matthew in the Carolinas and Haiti. Mr. Slater also took part in Compassion International’s “Fill the Stadium” initiative in 2021 to support children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Mr. Slater and his wife, Shahrzad Ehdaivand Slater, M.D., a physician in Providence, founded the Slater Family Foundation. They adopted a fifth-grade class at the William D’Abate Elementary School in Providence, providing financial, logistical, and emotional support during the pandemic. The foundation hosted a community jamboree in Providence in August 2021 and a fundraiser to benefit the Global Cardiovascular Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in January 2026.
In January 2025, Mr. Slater was the featured speaker at PC’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, where he spoke of the importance of his Christian faith.
He and his wife are the parents of four.
