CJ Gardner-Johnson initially expressed no hard feelings after the Eagles traded him to the Texans in March. However, his perspective appears to have shifted recently. Eagle’s defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the trade during a recent media session, citing salary cap considerations as the reason for the decision.
Gardner-Johnson, who inked a three-year, $27 million contract with Philadelphia last March, reacted to Fangio’s remarks by reposting the comments on Instagram, adding his own message: “Don’t do young people like Y’all,” along with several emojis.
“I was a test dummy for them,” the 27-year-old stated in a subsequent Instagram post. He implied that while the Eagles might use him as an example, it wouldn’t reflect well on the team’s decision-making. “There was a problem with zero. [People] There was a problem with me. Yes, make your salary cap an excuse,” he added.
Fangio further mentioned that the decision to trade Gardner-Johnson was ultimately made by Eagles GM Howie Roseman. Last season, Gardner-Johnson had a notable performance, recording six interceptions, one touchdown, 12 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and 59 tackles.
The Eagles traded him to the Texans in exchange for guard Kenyon Green and a fifth-round pick in 2026. Houston ended up with a sixth-round pick in the same draft.
When Gardner-Johnson left Philadelphia, he noted that he had a candid discussion with the team, even humorously suggesting that he thought the trade news might have been an April Fool’s joke. He acknowledged the financial pressures on younger players in Philadelphia and mentioned his desire to play winning football elsewhere. “I didn’t ask for a specific place… I just wanted to go to a place where I can play winning football,” he explained, recalling how the trade news felt unexpected.
Gardner-Johnson’s departure occurred amidst a flurry of offseason changes for the Super Bowl champions. In 2024, he was voted the most annoying player by anonymously polled NFL players, a title he jokingly embraced. Interestingly, the Eagles and Texans will not face each other during the 2025 regular season.
