Special teamer Brenden Schooler, Patriots reportedly agree to contract extension

Schooler is inked in New England through 2027.

The Patriots reportedly invested in their special teams unit by extending a key player.

Brenden Schooler and New England agreed to a three-year, $9 million contract extension on Friday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The deal reportedly includes $3.6 million in guaranteed money, and Schooler could earn up to $10.5 with incentives, per Pelissero.

Since joining the Patriots as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft, Schooler has grown into a special teams ace. Playing alongside legendary New England special teamer Matthew Slater in his first two seasons and now playing under him as a coach certainly seems to have aided in Schooler’s growth.

The 27-year-old, who’s listed as a safety on the team’s website, has already logged five solo tackles and a blocked punt this season.

Schooler even said he specifically watched film of Slater, who’s now a special assistant to head coach Jerod Mayo, heading into New England’s game against the Miami Dolphins last week. He went on to block ex-Patriot Jake Bailey’s punt in the second quarter.

Last year, before he retired, Slater extensively praised Schooler and his talent when speaking with reporters. He said he felt lucky to be able to play with someone like Schooler.

“I say it all the time: I’m glad I stuck around long enough to play with him, and excited about what he’s going to do in the future,” Slater said of Schooler last October. “I think he’s been so consistent since he got here. I said it last year, and I’ve said it earlier this year, he’s a young guy who has really played like he belongs at this level since he got here. And he’ll only continue to get better as he understands the game and as he sees more looks, and gets used to teams game-planning for him. He’ll just get better and better.”

Despite the fact that Bill Belichick is no longer with the Patriots and Slater retired from playing, it appears the organization still finds special teams-focused players like Schooler to be crucial to the team.