C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the controversial former Eagles safety, has joined another new team.
Gardner-Johnson, a key member of last year’s Super Bowl team, is signing with the Bears, according to a Wednesday morning report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Gardner-Johnson will join Chicago’s active roster. This will be his fourth team since March.
A month after winning Super Bowl LIX, the Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson to the Texans. The move was made to clear salary cap space, but he didn’t see it that way. Gardner-Johnson told “The Pivot” podcast that the Eagles traded him because they were “scared of a competitor.”
Gardner-Johnson didn’t last long in Houston. The 27-year-old was released by the Texans on Sept. 23, after just three games with the AFC South franchise. Gardner-Johnson was reportedly a “locker room issue” in Houston, complaining about his role and criticizing teammates.
Gardner-Johnson was signed to the Ravens’ practice squad on Oct. 7. Baltimore acquired Chargers safety Alohi Gilman later that day, started Gilman a few days later and kept Gardner-Johnson on the practice squad.
Gardner-Johnson was cut by the Ravens on Oct. 14 in an “amicable mutual decision.”
Now, the Bears will try to get the best out of Gardner-Johnson, who has 18 interceptions and 51 passes defended in seven seasons. Gardner-Johnson was a playmaker last season for the Eagles, securing six interceptions and helping the Birds on their Super Bowl run.
Gardner-Johnson will rejoin Dennis Allen in Chicago. Allen, the Bears’ defensive coordinator, was the head coach of the Saints when New Orleans drafted Gardner-Johnson in 2019.
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