Matthew Judon is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football at Grand Valley State, where he set the Division II record for sacks, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Judon received two consecutive Pro Bowl selections during his five seasons with the Ravens. He joined the Patriots in 2021, earning Pro Bowl honors for a third successive season.
Judon received an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game, but was unable to play after an arthroscopy discovered what was characterized as a “tweaked meniscus”.
He was one of sixty-five defensive linemen to receive an invitation to the NFL combine and the first player from Grand Valley State to receive an invitation in two years and opt to attend.
Judon showed athleticism and strength, finishing top among defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (fifth), bench press (fifth), and vertical jump (fourth).
The Ravens placed the franchise tag on Judon on March 13, 2020. On May 28, 2020, Judon signed the one-year, $16.808 million franchise tender. In Week 4 against the Washington Football Team, Judon recorded his first two sacks of the season on Dwayne Haskins during the 31–17 win.
In Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Judon was ejected from the game after making contact with an official. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 3, 2020, and activated two days later.
He was placed back on the COVID-19 list on November 30 and activated again on December 9. In Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Judon recorded a sack on Gardner Minshew in the endzone for safety during the 40–14 win.
On March 19, 2021, Judon signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the New England Patriots. Judon surpassed his career high in sacks by Week 11, earning him Pro Bowl honors for a third consecutive season.