The New England Patriots traded Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday, which was a day before his 32nd birthday.
Ouch.
To be fair, the two sides were locked in a stalemate during contract negotiations, and there was a good chance he’d be headed out the door in 2025. The Patriots are a rebuilding team focusing on the younger players, and they chose a third-round pick over keeping Judon.
Some Patriots fans are angry at the decision, while others agree with the logic behind the decision to trade one of the most beloved players on the roster.
Judon posted a video of himself in an Instagram story reacting to the trade news.
“Ya’ll, it’s a real [expletive] birthday, too. Peace up, A-town down,” said Judon.
The four-time Pro Bowl linebacker created a long reel of slides featuring his former Patriots teammates and fans saying their goodbyes. It’s mixed with the sadness from leaving New England, along with plenty of optimism for the future in Atlanta.
Judon has stated multiple times that he never wanted to leave the Patriots. He hoped he could finish out his career with the team. Unfortunately, athletes rarely get the endings they wish for in sports.
Judon was no different.