Matthew Slater’s days as the New England Patriots‘ post-victory congregation leader officially are over.
Slater delivered the famed “Aww Yeah!” speech after victories for over a decade. But the special teams legend retired last offseason before rejoining the Patriots in a coaching role. Many wondered whether Slater would retain his post-victory duties or pass the torch to an active player.
Now, we have our answer.
Ja’Whaun Bentley Revealed as Patriots’ New ‘Aww Yeah!’ Leader
Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley was revealed as the new “Aww Yeah” torch-bearer in a locker room celebration video posted Monday night. Bentley delivered his first post-victory speech after New England’s stunning road upset of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“Now listen to this: How do we feel about coming to Cincinnati and taking over they trap?” Bentley asked his teammates, who responded with the customary, “Aww Yeah!”
You can watch the full celebration video in the X post below. The clip also includes footage of Patriots owner Robert Kraft presenting a game ball to head coach Jerod Mayo, who picked up his first victory.
FIRST ONE 🗣️
Awwwwww yeahhhhhhhh pic.twitter.com/q9YnU6e0OZ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 9, 2024
Obviously, the Patriots didn’t have many post-victory celebrations in 2023. In fact, Slater bucked tradition after a mid-season upset of the Buffalo Bills by calling on his teammates to say “family.” He brought back the traditional rally cry seven weeks later after the Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Whether we’ll see more “Aww Yeah!” speeches this search remains to be seen. Regardless, as a team captain and one of the most respected leaders on the team, Bentley was a great choice to replace Slater.
What’s the History Behind the ‘Aww Yeah!’ Celebration?
The “Aww Yeah!” tradition started over two decades ago. You can watch a great ESPN segment on the backstory below.
Longtime Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi got the ball rolling in 2003. After he retired, he passed the torch to offensive tackle Matt Light, who eventually passed it to Tom Brady, who passed it to Randy Moss.
Slater took over in 2011 when he was a 26-year-old pro entering his fourth season. He held the position for 14 consecutive seasons.
Bentley’s style likely will differ from Slater’s. The former has a more fiery personality, whereas the latter took a cerebral, spiritual approach while speaking to what he often called “the congregation.”
It’s worth noting that Bentley, 28, isn’t guaranteed any money in 2025 and is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026. So, it might not be long before the Patriots search for a new player to break things down after victories.
Watch: Patriots ‘Aww Yeah!’ Mantra
ESPN covered this locker room mantra that caps off every New England Patriots win — and it was started more than a decade ago by Tedy Bruschi.