NFL journeyman C.J. Gardner-Johnson blames last season’s unceremonious exit in Houston on a confrontation with an executive’s friend.
Now a member of the Buffalo Bills, the divisive defensive back spoke with The Athletic’s Tim Graham about a turbulent career that’s taken him through New Orleans, Philadelphia, Detroit, Philadelphia again, Houston, Baltimore and Chicago between 2019 and 2025.
Things may have been at their worst for Gardner-Johnson in Houston, where he was accused of coverage breakdowns, refusing to take responsibility for his mistakes, and rubbing teammates the wrong way, according to an ESPN report at the time. Houston’s KPRC Channel 2 added to the damning reports, claiming Gardner-Johnson demanded a trade and even criticized the size of one player’s deal with the Texans.
‘That’s a lie,’ Gardner-Johnson told Graham. ‘I never said s*** about nobody’s contract. I’m on a $33 million deal. Why the f*** would I talk about somebody’s contract?’
The real reason Gardner was cut on September 23, he claimed to The Athletic, was because of a confrontation with ‘the GM’s friend’ as the team spent four days training at the famed Greenbrier resort in West Virginia.
‘If y’all going to cut me, cut me,’ Gardner-Johnson said. ‘But I’ll give nobody reasons to cut me. I haven’t. I don’t. I’m not a cancer.
Gardner-Johnson led the NFL in interceptions while playing for the Eagles in 2024
‘There’s nobody in this locker room that says, “Chauncey’s a problem,”‘ he continued, referring to himself by his given name.
‘The media loves me. The only thing that’ll do it is something that triggers somebody that has a say in the building that can alter somebody else’s mind. That happens every time.
‘That’s how I got [cut] in Houston. One person that’s not technically a part of the organization called me a B-word at Greenbrier.’
Gardner-Johnson admitted to get upset, which, he claimed prompted the other party to say something to the GM.
‘Next thing I’m cut,’ Gardner-Johnson said.
Houston Texans executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio is not specifically named in The Athletic report. The Texans did not comment when contacted by The Athletic.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is pictured warming up for the Bears after being cut in Houston
Houston Texans executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio is not specifically named in The Athletic report. The Texans did not comment when contacted by The Athletic
Gardner-Johnson did not explain the 47-day gap between the alleged altercation and when he was released by Houston.
Caserio did explain his reasoning for cutting Gardner-Johnson back in October.
‘… in the end, took a shot on goal, didn’t work out, move on,’ Caserio told reporters. ‘Let’s focus on the rest of the team and the players that are here. Really nothing more to it. I’m not trying to oversimplify it. But, that’s the reality of the situation. Certainly, wish him well. Good to work with. In the end that’s a decision that we made and we moved ahead.’
For all of his trash talking and bravado, Gardner-Johnson has been a useful, versatile defensive back for much of his career and even started for the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. When he returned to Philadelphia in 2024, he tied for the league lead with six interceptions for the season.
