Bears to sign safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who five years ago egged on fights with Bears players in two different games, is coming to Halas Hall.
The Bears agreed to add the safety on Wednesday, a source confirmed. Gardner-Johnson started 16 games for the Super Bowl champion Eagles a year ago, but bounced between the Texans and the Ravens this year, playing three games for Houston. He spent just a week on the Ravens' practice squad earlier this month.
Gardner-Johnson has experience in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system, having played for the Saints from 2019-21. He played three games for coach Ben Johnson’s Lions in 2023.
Gardner-Johnson figures to contribute on obvious passing downs with the Bears missing slot cornerback Kyler Gordon, whom they put on IR on Saturday with groin and calf injuries.
Johnson has 18 interceptions in seven seasons. In Chicago, he's best known for his antics in two 2020 games. In November, Bears receiver Javon Wims was ejected from a regular season overtime loss for punching Gardner-Johnson, a notorious pest who was once slugged by his own teammate, Michael Thomas, in New Orleans.
The Bears were set to play the Saints in the first round of the playoffs, and Bears coaches held a meeting specifically to tell their players not to engage with the safety. Receiver Anthony Miller punched him anyway, and was ejected from the playoff loss.
Later, chairman George McCaskey said he had a bigger issue with Miller’s ejecting.
“They sat him down and they told him, ‘Listen, watch out for this player. He’s a punk. He’s going to try to get under your skin,’” McCaskey said. “And with Darnell Mooney out, we really need you to be in this game and help this team,’ And Anthony had the benefit of having seen Javon’s experience.”
Miller never played another snap for the Bears.