Patriots legend Matthew Slater reveals the best special teamer in NFL
Patriots legend Matthew Slater reveals the best special teamer in NFL
Some NFL fans view New England Patriots legend Matthew Slater as the greatest special teams player of all time. So Slater's opinion on who currently carries the distinction as the NFL's best special teamer is held in high regard.
The resume speaks for itself when it comes to Slater, a 10-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and a three-time Super Bowl champion. When appearing on the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast, Slater admitted he was biased, but he picked a clear winner for the NFL's best special teams player currently.
'I have a extreme bias, but to me it's Brenden Schooler,' said Slater, as transcribed by NESN's Sophie Weller. 'To me, there's really no weakness in his game. We always talk about covering kicks and making plays that impact coverage, but in the return game, it's very rare that the guy he's blocking will be even close to the football. He's a dominant player in the return game.'
Schooler has certainly lived up to the hype.
He was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2024, and he also made the Pro Bowl in 2025. As a rookie, he earned the PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2022, and he was named an NFLPA All-Pro in 2023.
There is no replacing a legend like Slater on the Patriots' football team. However, Schooler has done a tremendous job of carving his own path to greatness.
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