The New England Patriots’ season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals marked not only the debut of head coach Jerod Mayo and his revamped staff but also the first Week 1 game since 2007 without Matthew Slater.
Slater, the long-time team captain, retired earlier this offseason, leaving a significant gap on and off the field after a Hall of Fame-worthy career.
During Sunday’s 16-10 victory over Cincinnati, the Patriots revealed their plan to fill Slater’s void. Center and eight-year captain David Andrews, now the second-longest tenured Patriot behind long snapper Joe Cardona, stepped into Slater’s former role as the team representative at the coin toss, continuing the tradition by calling “heads.”
Cardona, newly appointed as a captain for the first time in his career, assumed Slater’s leadership role over the special teams unit. On the field, however, that responsibility fell to Brenden Schooler, who led the Patriots in special teams tackles during his first two seasons.
In the game, Schooler played 17 of 21 snaps on special teams and recorded three tackles as a gunner on the punt team.
Brenden Schooler gunner highlights pic.twitter.com/mk8rh1j7DH
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) September 9, 2024
An undrafted free agent, Brenden Schooler spent 2022 and 2023 learning under Matthew Slater, proving himself as a worthy successor. On Sunday, he stepped up and delivered the best performance of his career in terms of tackles.
In addition to Schooler, the Patriots leaned on center David Andrews, long snapper Joe Cardona, and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to help fill the void left by Slater. Bentley, another team captain, was chosen to address the locker room after the game, and he led the postgame huddle, ending with the team’s signature “Awww yeah” chant.
FIRST ONE 🗣️
Awwwwww yeahhhhhhhh pic.twitter.com/q9YnU6e0OZ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 9, 2024
“How do we feel about coming to Cincinnati and taking over their trap?” Bentley asked, firing up his teammates. The response was as bold and energetic as the Patriots’ overall performance in their first season opener of the post-Matthew Slater era.
