With several injuries to the secondary this season, the Chicago Bears are signing veteran Chauncey “C.J.” Gardner-Johnson, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The 27-year-old defensive back has a history with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who had him in New Orleans from 2019 to 2021, and a history with head coach Ben Johnson, who was on staff in Detroit when C.J. played there in 2023. He entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Saints in 2019, and the Bears will be the sixth franchise
he’s played for.
He began the 2025 season as a starting safety for the Houston Texans, where he racked up 15 tackles in three games before being released on September 23. His most recent gig was a brief one-week stint on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Gardner-Johnson (5’11”, 208) has been a controversial player during his seven years as a pro, and Bears fans may recall his “fight” with Javon Wims the last time Chicago was in the playoffs. At every stop he
When playing for Allen in New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson mostly played nickleback, but he also has plenty of experience at safety, and has no problems mixing it up and helping in run support. In his last full season in the NFL, 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles (16 games), he played strong safety and had 59 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions (1 TD), 12 passes defended, and a forced fumble. He also started all four postseason games, earning a Super Bowl ring.
