Fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Eagles, CJ Gardner-Johnson is making an exit from Philadelphia.
The Eagles have agreed a trade with the Houston Texans that would see the veteran safety head to the Lone Star State.
In exchange the reigning Super Bowl champions are set to acquire former first-round pick Kenyon Green, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and DJ Bien-Aime.
The Eagles are also reportedly set to acquire a 2026 fifth-round pick, while the Texans will receive a sixth-rounder in the same draft.
Gardner-Johnson acknowledged the trade Tuesday morning in a social media post, writing: ‘I love you Philly, we forever champions.’
The safety, who has 18 career interceptions, played for the Eagles over two different stints in 2022 and 2024.
The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly trading CJ Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans
The Texans recently lost starting safety Eric Murray to the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year, $22.5million deal in free agency.
Gardner-Johnson courted controversy off the field in the wake of the Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs down in New Orleans.
After beating the Chiefs 40-22, he shared a picture of himself staring down Travis Kelce during the contest with the caption, ‘Should’ve Stayed with that thick s****’, which is believed to be a reference to Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole.
He addressed those comments by saying, ‘When it comes to black queens, you just don’t play with them.’
He continued to troll the pop star and her NFL beau during the Eagles’ victory parade when he wore sweatshirt that said, ‘Swifties can LIX my balls’ – a reference to Super Bowl LIX.
Meanwhile, Gardner-Johnson made headlines last week when he lashed out at former teammate Darius Slay.
Slay, who was designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Eagles earlier this month, was recently asked about who could take over as a leader within the defensive secondary.
Slay pointed to Reed Blankenship as a natural successor in the world of pass defense, saying, ‘Reed being around me and a lot of veterans before, I’m sure he could lead that group the right way. That’s who I feel would be leading the group if I ain’t in the building… He’s a great damn leader.’
Gardner-Johnson went on a celebration tour, calling out Travis Kelce on after winning
He also then mocked Taylor Swift and her fans at the Super Bowl parade in Philadelphia
That rubbed Gardner-Johnson the wrong way – especially considering he’s been in the league longer than Blankenship has.
A ticked-off Gardner-Johnson let his feelings be known on X, formerly Twitter , with a series of posts.
‘You would think feelings would be mutual after a great season but …… aye twin keep that s*** solid,’ he posted alongside a GIF of rapper Kodak Black.
He followed that tweet up with a post saying, ‘This is nothing about our team … TRUST!! We good.’
The next morning, he tweeted once again, saying, ‘Not a crash out just keeping it real.’
Gardner-Johnson also posted some thoughts that were then deleted off his twitter account.
The veteran safety recently clapped back at a former teammate Darius Slay
‘Last Vet that replaced me helped yall get to the door in the wildcard round, REMEMBER THAT!!,’ he posted on Thursday.
He also posted, ‘Vet presence is always needed don’t get me wrong! But bro what “Vet” is needed when young guys can hold their own (Q& Coop) [Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean] and you got a crazy duo with Reed and Me?! And the supporting cast ([Kelee] Ringo, Zay [Isaiah Rodgers], Andre Sam, Eli [Ricks], Sydney [Brown], Tristin [McCollum]) stay with the youth u ask me!!’
Slay made a response of his own: ‘We just won a Super Bowl together. I do not have no problem or hate towards bra.
‘Reed is in our leadership council which is [why] I said what I said. I would expect him to be the next guy up. It’s nothing but love on my end if u really kno me.. Yall have a blessed day #WorldChamps.’
