Matthew Judon’s Quiet Regret — Inside the Trade That Sent Him Back to Baltimore, But Left His Heart in Philadelphia
Matthew Judon’s Quiet Regret — Inside the Trade That Sent Him Back to Baltimore, But Left His Heart in Philadelphia
November 6, 2025
When the Baltimore Ravens made a late push to bring back star edge rusher Matthew Judon just hours before the NFL trade deadline, it was seen as a sentimental homecoming — a reunion between a veteran pass rusher and the franchise where he first made his name. For the Ravens, it was a move to strengthen an already dangerous defense. For Judon, it was a second chance to chase a championship with the team that drafted him.
But behind that familiar smile in his first press conference back in Baltimore, there’s a quiet truth few know — Judon had his heart set on another team. According to multiple league insiders, the four-time Pro Bowler was hoping to join the Philadelphia Eagles, who had shown strong interest in the days leading up to the deadline. Philadelphia’s front office, impressed by his leadership and relentless motor, viewed Judon as the missing veteran voice for a defense still finding its post-Super Bowl identity.
Negotiations between the Patriots and Eagles reportedly fell apart late Monday night over conditional draft picks, and within hours, Baltimore swooped in — sending a 2026 sixth-round pick to New England and sealing the deal before sunrise on November 4.
“I’ve got nothing but love for the Ravens — this place helped shape me. But I can’t lie — Philly would’ve been special. That front seven, that culture, that hunger… I’ve always admired how Coach Nick Sirianni builds a team that plays for each other. That’s a locker room every edge rusher wants to be part of.”
Now, back in Baltimore’s black and purple, Judon is already being welcomed like he never left. Yet, as he lines up under the bright lights of M&T Bank Stadium, there’s a small part of him that wonders what could have been — flying with the Eagles, in a city that mirrors his own intensity and grit.
Because while the NFL celebrates his return to Baltimore, Matthew Judon knows that some trades aren’t just about football — they’re about what feels like home. And this time, home might have been painted green.
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