C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s journey to the Chicago Bears has been polarizing. His tenure, however, has been nothing short of galvanizing.
Gardner-Johnson, who turns 28 on December 20, signed when injuries had decimated the Bears’ secondary.
He helped make the best of a difficult situation and has positively impacted the team on the field and in the locker room. As Gardner-Johnson prepares to face the Green Bay Packers for the second time in seven games (five starts) with the Bears, he spoke candidly with Clocker Sports.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Gets Honest About Bears, Narratives, and Quick Success
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Proving Fit Matters With Bears
Gardner Johnson made no bones about what has allowed him to thrive on and off the field with the Bears, a point that stands out after how his season began.
“We all ballers,” Gardner-Johnson told Clocker Sports after practice on Thursday. “Ballhawks, and our coach don’t take nothing less than getting the ball and playing for each other. So, I think coming here was probably the best place for me to adapt to guys in the room that’s just like me.”
Gardner-Johnson has a history with the Bears’ coaching staff.
He was with head coach Ben Johnson as a member of the Detroit Lions in 2024, and he began his NFL career under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with the New Orleans Saints.
They know him and how to deploy him, perhaps better than most. Moreover, the chemistry between Gardner-Johnson and, not only his fellow DBs, but the entire team, has been very apparent. He has played with some of his current teammates–Jonah Jackson, Scott Daly, and T.J. Edwards.
The takes from the Bears belie reports about him from his previous stops, even the successful ones.
What about on the field? Gardner-Johnson has 37 total tackles, 3 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble with the Bears.
That is hardly the stat line of a player that playoff contenders like the Eagles, Lions, and Texans decided to part with unceremoniously. How has Gardner-Johnson once again found lightning in a bottle, particularly after his last two stops turned sour so quickly?
“God,” Gardner-Johnson said, repeating the answer. “When you’re living right, people try to make their own narratives. But everywhere I’ve been, I’ve always been able to make a great contribution. I keep God first. So, I feel like that’s God, really. I’ve been blessed with a lot of great teams. I can’t say I take all the credit, but I can take some credit for being there and being a part of the situation, in a sense.”
C.J. Gardner-Johnson: ‘I Hold People Accountable’
In particular, Gardner-Johnson was a key part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning 2024 season. That was his second stint with the Eagles, and he led the league in interceptions during the first go-round in 2022.
He also has success in Detroit, but negativity has surrounded his exits.
“I hold people accountable that don’t want to be held accountable, and I’m not throwing no shade. I just feel like if we’re going to be at this level of football, we should be able to see eye to eye, especially if we want the same thing: championship,” Gardner-Johnson told Clocker Sports.
“Previous places I’ve been, won some. Previous places I’ve been, we wasn’t successful. But they’re doing good now. I’m doing good in my situation. So, probably the best situation that God put us both in. So, we’re just blessed to be here. I say the narrative right now is just really control. Continue to win and continue to change the narrative by just winning the football with a good team.”
The most recent “situation” was with the Baltimore Ravens, who signed Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad in the wake of his release from the Texans after Week 3.
Houston acquired Gardner-Johnson in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 offseason. But Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans cited doing what he felt was in the best interest of the team in claiming sole responsibility for moving on from Gardner-Johnson.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud offered praise for Gardner-Johnson, denying any locker room friction.
Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins sent a message of support (since deleted) following Gardner-Johnson’s exit from Baltimore, which was by choice after they added Alohi Gilman.
Bears Can “Do Something Special”
With the Bears, the question around Gardner-Johnson when he arrived was how well he would fit in with a fledgling group after stints with proven and/or veteran squads. Now, the question is whether the Bears will look to bring Gardner-Johnson back next season.
In the meantime, the Bears are thriving because of playmakers like Gardner-Johnson.
“To be honest with you, when the ball goes up, and I’m not the one to get it, I feel like every time my teammates is in position to get the ball. I feel like we put fear in other teams, regardless, because we’re deep on the back end, all these DBs,” Gardner-Johnson said when asked how having so many of those “ballhawks” stresses opposing QBs and offenses.
“I just feel like when we play, continue to learn each other, we’re gonna continue to grow. And getting deeper into the run of the playoffs, we should be able to do some great things together. Even though we’re taking the ball away, continue to do something special as a group.”
How special? Gardner-Johnson and the Bears are very clearly thinking about the postseason. However, the former fourth-round pick (No. 105 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft says they are staying focused.
“To be honest, it’s a tough race right now,” Gardner-Johnson said. “See what’s going to happen tonight, within the next three weeks. This is going to be a tough race, and I think the ceiling for this team is just focus on us. I think everybody’s pushing for a great seeding. But I feel like when you don’t think about a great seeding–like I said, I’ve been in places where you gotta just play ball, and the seeding will take care of itself.”
The Bears entered the Week as the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
They are awaiting the results of the Los Angeles Rams’ tilt against the Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football” to sort things out around them. But their focus is truly internal. That means Gardner-Johnson and the Bears must take care of business against the Packers in Week 16.