Texans' C.J. Gardner-Johnson doesn't hold back on thoughts surrounding offseason trade
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is happy to be a member of the Houston Texans, but that doesn't mean he's over his departure from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Garnder-Johnson, the centerpiece of the Texans' biggest offseason move built around trading former first-round pick Kenyon Green, admitted he didn't take kindly to the deal initially. One year after helping the Eagles win their Super Bowl, he was off to a new team in a new locker room for the fourth straight offseason.
He believes that he's been slighted throughout his career to date, and the Eagles might be the worst at doing him dirty.
"I feel highly disrespected, but it's a business," Gardner-Johnson told KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. "Never was an All-Pro or Pro Bowl! Never! Led the league in interceptions. What more do you want?"
Part of the reason Gardner-Johnson believes he was traded has nothing to do with his on-field play, but rather his antics after the hit. He was fined six times for a total of $101,298, per Spotrac.com, during the 2024 season, including two fines up to $45,000 from the Eagles' Week 16 loss to the Washington Commanders, which ended with him being ejected after multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
"People say, 'He's a hazard, he's this, he's that.' I never been no hazard, bro," Gardner-Johnson told Wilson. "They got no real issues on me. That black ball ain't going to work on me, because I got me a ring. I got me one."
Signed to a three-year deal last offseason, Gardner-Johnson is under contract with Houston through 2026. He plans on proving his impact in Philadelphia by being the glue that keeps the Texans together en route to another AFC South division title.
The good news for Texans fans? Since 2022, any team Gardner-Johnson has played for has made at least the conference championship, including the Detroit Lions in 2023. After being traded despite his impact on bringing a title to Philly, the veteran defensive back is now fueled to take DeMeco Ryans' defense to the next level.
"I got three more championships in me," Gardner-Johnson said. "I'm probably going to win the next three. I'm going to get me another Super Bowl this year. Just watch."
The Texans open the regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 7 at SoFi Stadium.
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