Veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson arrived just when the Chicago Bears needed him last season, helping Caleb Williams and Co. reach the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Gardner-Johnson moved on this offseason, signing with the Buffalo Bills in free agency. There, he joins former Bears teammate, wide receiver DJ Moore, whom Chicago traded to Buffalo during this same offseason.
Despite his new digs, Gardner-Johnson still has strong opinions about his former QB.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Sends Message About Bears’ Caleb Williams
Bears’ Caleb Williams Sparks Strong Response From Bills’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Williams has been in the spotlight for a long time, and the Bears QB’s decision to paint his nails has been a talking point nearly as long. The nails, which often feature team colors or even short messages, have become a trademark.
They even appear on one of the covers Williams appears on for Madden NFL 27, the latest installment in the long-running video game series.
Rapper Boosie took Williams to task for the look, suggesting it was a failure as a role model.
“FINGERNAILS PAINTED ON MADDEN YOUNG BOYS LOOK UP TO YOU BRO,” the Louisiana-born rapper said in a post on Instagram on June 3. “THIS IS THE EXAMPLE U SET FOR THEM”
The “Wipe Me Down” star continued by saying that Williams’ Bears’ teammates should accost him and that the third-year QB is seeking respect but has his nails painted like their girlfriends.
Gardner-Johnson posted in response, “Selling more than music I bet [shrugging emoji].”
Some fans in the comments appreciated Gardner-Johnson’s efforts, while others sided with Boosie, whose comments are nothing new for Williams.
Caleb Williams Continues to Spark Polarizing Takes for Non-Football Reasons
Williams faced scrutiny over the nails in college, long before the Bears made him the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. He has spoken candidly about why he does it and made it clear he does not focus on the hate.
That the nails have been immortalized speaks to the influence Williams has had in his short NFL career.
It must be noted that the pose is from the “deluxe edition” of the game. The standard edition features Williams’ jumping pass to Rome Odunze from this past season, with the QB saying that he wanted to honor Chicago Bulls and NBA legend Michael Jordan by choosing the inspiration.
Boosie has been outspoken on various issues outside of his rap career, so this is nothing new for him either.
Bears fans (and the team) likely couldn’t care less about Williams’ nails, as long as he wins.
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