C.J. Gardner-Johnson Walks Back Harsh Comments Toward Eagles

Former Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been sent packing by Philadelphia twice in three years. The pain hasn’t gotten any easier to deal with.

“When I got traded [to the Texans], I was in shock,” Gardner-Johnson said on a recent episode of The Pivot Podcast. “I told [Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans] I couldn’t come into the building because I was confused. I didn’t know who to turn to.”

The Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in March, one month after he helped them win a Super Bowl title. General Manager Howie Roseman cited financial flexibility as the reason behind the trade.

“Chauncey did a great job for us in both the years that he was with us, obviously making the Super Bowl twice in two years with him as our starting safety,” Roseman said at the NFL annual meetings. “When you look at our team and you look at the amount of highly paid players who have earned their contracts, we’ve got eight guys who are making $15 million or more.

“We have, from 2022 to 2024 drafts, we have eight starters who are on the Super Bowl team. None of those guys have long-term contracts. In those drafts, we probably have five or six players who will be competing for starting jobs. So you have a lot of players coming through that aren’t under long-term contracts, plus a lot of guys who are on long-term contracts, and we never want to be in a situation where we have one year where we’re getting rid of 20 guys.”

Looming contract extensions for Jalen Carter, Reed Blankenship, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and others contributed to the decision. Still, Gardner-Johnson said the defense would be worse off without him on an Instagram Live session in June.

“The Eagles probably won’t see a ring without me. Y’all saw what happened when I left. I’m popping now, I’m glad I’m in Texas.”

After Gardner-Johnson left the team in 2023, Philadelphia’s defense suffered a catastrophic decline. All that changed when he returned in free agency last offseason.

Gardner-Johnson walked back his comments during the podcast, specifically apologizing to Eagles players and Lane Johnson.

In two seasons with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson recorded 126 tackles, 20 pass breakups, and 12 interceptions. He brought a much-needed edge to a defense that needed intensity, and that energy catapulted Philadelphia to another championship.

With the drama now behind him, Gardner-Johnson can focus on making an impact with the Texans.

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