Now that he’s back, C.J. Gardner-Johnson is saying sorry.
On the same day he reportedly signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles worth up to $33 million, the cornerback posted a message on social media apologizing for previous comments he had made about the Philadelphia fan base, after he had played for the team.
‘I do owe the fans of Philly an apology,’ Gardner-Johnson wrote in a message that published Tuesday to his social media. ‘Regardless this is an amazing place and we had some memories together! Let’s go get us one #FlyEaglesFly.’
The Eagles traded for Gardner-Johnson in August 2022 after he had played the first three seasons of his career for the New Orleans Saints. Gardner-Johnson, then 25, enjoyed his most productive season, posting career highs in tackles (67) and interceptions (six), which tied Minkah Fitzpatrick, Justin Simmons and Riq Woolen for most in the NFL.
Gardner-Johnson helped the Eagles make it all the way to the Super Bowl, before they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was on an expiring contract that year and he signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions the following offseason.
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That was when his controversial comments began. First, in March 2023, he said Detroit’s roster was ‘a little better’ than Philadelphia’s, despite its Super Bowl run.
Then, in July 2023, during a livestream in which he was playing video games, a fan asked Gardner-Johnson what his favorite and least favorite things were about Philadelphia.
‘All right, my least favorite thing is the people,’ Gardner-Johnson said during the livestream. ‘They’re (expletive) obnoxious. I (expletive) can’t stand the (expletives).’
Gardner-Johnson, who is from east central Florida, said his favorite thing was the weather, despite the cold.
In 2023, Gardner-Johnson appeared in three games before he suffered a torn pectoral muscle that prematurely ended his season. He recorded 17 tackles and one interception during his brief time in Detroit.
Although he was injured and away from the team, Gardner-Johnson was ultimately vindicated concerning his comments comparing the Lions and Eagles rosters. Detroit would go on to a historic run to the NFC championship game – ultimately losing to the San Francisco 49ers – while the Eagles collapsed, losing five of their last six regular-season games, before a wild-card round exit in a 23-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
