WATCH: J.J. Watt Pays Respect To Matt Judon After Patriots Win

Dec 15, 2022 at 4:22 pm ET 1 min read 2.3k views

Oct 24, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon (9) chase down Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports — Photo: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

1 min read Patriots Video

Linebacker Matthew Judon is having a career year, and one of the all-time best pass rushers of recent memory wanted to make sure he knew how great he truly is after the Patriots win in Arizona Monday night.

Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt, was caught on camera looking for Judon so he could pay respect to his fellow defender.

Watt and his Cardinals are the subjects of HBO Hard Knocks In Season.

“Guy played his balls off,” Watt tells a Cardinals assistant in a clip from the show. “I want to tell him.”

The clip cuts to Watt finding Judon for an ensuing conversation.

“Hey, you played your balls off, brother,” Watt told the Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker. “I appreciate you.”

Judon then shared the love back.

“So much respect, man,” he told Watt. “You’ve been doing this for a long time, and we’re all watching, man. We’re all following you, man.”

You can view the Hard Knocks clip in the tweet below.

All about showing respect 🤝 @JJWatt @man_dammn | #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/Kr37YBpNZm

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 15, 2022

During Monday night’s victory over Watt’s Cardinals, Judon registered 1.5 sacks to up his total to 14.5 on the season, tying him for the league lead with the 49ers’ Nick Bosa. At the current pace he’s going, Judon has the potential to set the Patriots’ single-season sack record, presently held by Andre Tippett.