The Houston Texans acquired a proven, ball-hawk safety with a reputation for being a bit of a trash-talker.
However, more often than not, C.J. Gardner-Johnson has backed up the smack-talk on the field.
That’s why, even though his trade from the Philadelphia Eagles was deemed ‘a salary cap thing,’ he still felt disrespected.
With that in mind, he made sure to put the entire league on notice in his recent interview with Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com:
“People say, ‘He’s a hazard, he’s this, he’s that.’ I never been no hazard, bro. They got no real issues on me. That black ball ain’t going to work on me, because I got me a ring. I got me one. I got three more championships in me. I’m probably going to win the next three. I’m going to get me another Super Bowl this year. Just watch,” Gardner-Johnson said.
Johnson is one of the best safeties in the league.
The Texans acquired him for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick, which was a necessary financial move after the Eagles signed Zack Baun to a lucrative deal.
The 27-year-old was instrumental in shutting down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and he will now strive to get back to the final game of the season, this time representing the AFC.
The Texans lost to that same Chiefs team at Arrowhead Stadium in January, and they have never reached the AFC Championship Game in their young franchise history.
Gardner-Johnson will try to change that, and with DeMeco Ryans calling the shots on defense, they should continue to be one of the toughest units in the league on that side of the field.
Gardner-Johnson will make $8.5 million this season and up to $11.5 million next year, with void years in his contract from 2027 to 2030, and he’ll have a huge chip on his shoulder to prove that he’s worth every single penny.
