Matthew Judon may have overstayed his welcome in New England.
Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer indicated on Friday during an appearance on NBC Sports Boston that the star pass rusher rubbed some the wrong way in the Patriots’ organization, leading to his departure for the Falcons.
“Judon was not as well-liked by the coaches and front office people as you might’ve thought. They were just sick of him. They felt like there was the public-facing Judon, and there was the Judon behind the scenes … His act had worn thin with people inside the building.
“I think there was a little bit more to the Judon trade than just the contract situation.”
The Patriots traded Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, to Atlanta in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after contract talks between the team and player fell apart.
Days after the breakup, Judon, 31, blamed a lack of communication from the team for his departure from New England.
“I don’t know. I feel like we just never sat down and really came to the table,” Judon said to the outlet. “I think that’s the biggest point. They kind of didn’t know where I was at. We kind of didn’t know where they was at. It was just always through text messages and phone calls, we just never sat down and actually talked about it. I think that was the biggest kind of disconnect.”
He has taken a different tune on a potential contract extension in his new city.
“The Atlanta Falcons know nothing about me as a football player and about me as a man,” Judon said, per ESPN. “They really know my previous résumé. So, I can’t really demand or ask for anything that I haven’t worked for. And that’s where I’ve been my whole life. So, I’m [going to] work for it, man.”
Judon registered four sacks in four games in 2023 before suffering a torn biceps that ended his season.
In the two seasons before last, Judon’s 28 sacks were tied with the Steelers’ T.J. Watt for the third-most in football.