Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who won the Super Bowl with the Eagles in February, will reunite with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in Chicago. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
In an attempt to stabilize their depleted secondary, the Chicago Bears are signing veteran defensive back C.J. Garder-Johnson, a league source confirmed. It remains to be seen how the Bears envision folding Gardner-Johnson into their defensive plans. But with slot cornerback Kyler Gordon placed on injured reserve last weekend, Garder-Johnson can become a chess piece for coordinator Dennis Allen.
Gardner-Johnson is joining his fourth team in 2025 and his sixth organization overall. He was a starter in the Super Bowl in February for the Philadelphia Eagles but then traded to the Houston Texans in March. Gardner-Johnson lasted only three games in Houston before he was cut. He subsequently signed with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad but was with that team for only a week before departing.
In addition to his history with Allen — the two spent three seasons together in New Orleans from 2019 to 2021 — Gardner-Johnson also overlapped with Bears coach Ben Johnson in Detroit in 2023.
Gardner-Johnson has 18 career interceptions across seven seasons, registering six for the Eagles last season to match the career high he set previously in 2022 in his first stop in Philadelphia.
During his career, Gardner-Johnson has developed a reputation as a fiery and antagonistic defender with a penchant for agitating opponents. In 2020, Gardner-Johnson was involved in incidents with the Bears in two games, with receiver Javon Wims throwing punches at him during a regular-season game at Soldier Field. Wims was ejected and later suspended for the blow-up. In the opening round of the playoffs that season, fellow Bears receiver Anthony Miller also drew an ejection after an altercation with Gardner-Johnson prompted him to smack the Saints defensive back in the face mask.
Coming off a 30-16 loss to the Ravens, the Bears face a major defensive test this weekend against a high-powered Cincinnati Bengals passing attack. It will be interesting to see how quickly and how extensively Gardner-Johnson can factor into the Bears’ plans. At present, in addition to Gordon’s absence, cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Terrel Smith are on IR; rookie Zah Frazier is on the non-football injury (NFI) list because of a personal issue; and Tyrique Stevenson is recovering from a back injury he suffered in the Bears’ Week 7 win over New Orleans.
Oct 29, 2025
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