The New England Patriots fell short in a must-win game in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, ending their hopes of a playoff birth with the loss. As they head towards the NFL offseason, they may not have two key contributors to their team back next season.
Both star safety Devin McCourty and standout special teams player Matthew Slater are in the twilight of their NFL careers at 35 and 37 years of age respectively.
They were both asked following the loss whether or not this would be their final NFL game, and neither gave an answer that would inspire much confidence in their return next year.
“Just figuring out what makes me happy, what God has planned in my life,” McCourty said via WEEI in Boston. “Obviously I still enjoy playing the game of football, but you can’t play it forever…Have to figure out what’s best for my wife and kids and not just me.”
Slater gave a much more reflective answer on his improbable career as a whole.
“I’ve given it everything I have,” said Slater. “My dad told me when I was young that if I wanted to play the game there was a certain way to go about it. I tried to make him proud and represent his name the right way, because that’s how he did it.”
McCourty has been a staple in New England, playing his entire 13-year career with the organization and making two Pro Bowl appearances with the Patriots.
Slater also spent his entire 15-year career with the Patriots and may go down as one of the best special teams players in NFL history, making ten Pro Bowl appearances in his career.
[Audacy]
