C.J. Gardner-Johnson claps back at Vic Fangio's comment that Eagles traded DB for salary cap reasons
Texans defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson took to social media Wednesday to respond to a comment his former coach and current Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made regarding Philadelphia's decision to trade Gardner-Johnson to Houston.
The Eagles received offensive guard Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round selection in the exchange, while the Texans also added a 2026 sixth-round pick. When asked about the trade during OTAs on Tuesday, Fangio called it 'a salary cap thing.'
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'Howie (Roseman, Eagles GM) made that decision. I was fine with it,' he added.
Gardner-Johnson reposted a graphic featuring the quote to his Instagram story and added text that read, 'Just don't do them young guys like y'all did me.' He also included a 100 emoji and a flexed bicep emoji.
Gardner-Johnson had signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Eagles in 2024 and put up solid numbers in Philadelphia's Super Bowl-winning season: Six interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, 12 pass breakups, one forced fumble and 59 tackles. But the 27-year-old also has a reputation for getting under other players' skin. In 2024, he was voted the most annoying player in The Athletic's anonymous NFL player poll after taking the title of 'biggest trash talker' in the 2023 poll.
Before landing with the Texans, Gardner-Johnson made stops with three other teams. His longest was a three-year stint with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-2021. He played for the Eagles in 2022 and bounced back to Philadelphia in 2024 after a single season with the Detroit Lions sandwiched in between. He has 18 career interceptions, 51 pass breakups and 304 tackles.
The Eagles and Texans do not meet in the regular season in 2025.
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