Live Update: C.J. Gardner-Johnson Speaks Out About His Time with the Lions
In a fiery and candid reflection, former Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, didn’t hold back in expressing his frustrations about his time with the Lions. As the Eagles gear up to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, Gardner-Johnson took the opportunity to share his unfiltered thoughts on the team that he left behind.
Speaking bluntly about his experience in Detroit, Gardner-Johnson didn’t mince words, calling his time with the Lions “hell.” According to The Detroit Free Press, Gardner-Johnson went on to explain, “It was hell. I got lied to, so it was, whatever. I got told, respectfully, I was going to get brought back and didn’t get brought back. And offseason went real for me, signing back here because I wasn’t really tripping on it. It all worked out.”
Gardner-Johnson’s one season with the Lions was marred by injury after he tore a pectoral muscle in Week 2, sidelining him for most of the year. Despite this setback, he’s made it clear that his time in Detroit was one to forget. Reflecting on his experience, he added, “I got back on the field and I got to play ball. Truthfully, like in Detroit it was hell, I went there just to — OK, when I got hurt I was like, ‘(Expletive) it.’ Truthfully. That’s why I didn’t go rehab there.” Instead, he rehabbed in Florida, signaling that he didn’t see a future with the Lions.
As the Lions look to regroup after their NFC divisional loss to the Washington Commanders, they are also undergoing significant changes with the departure of both coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Gardner-Johnson, who was on a one-year deal with Detroit, now reflects on the lack of commitment he felt from the team. “I was on a one-year deal, so it was like there was no point unless they were really bringing me back,” he said. “By the time midseason came and I was getting healthy, they wasn’t trying to extend me, I’m like, ‘I’m cool.’”
In a now-deleted social media post, Gardner-Johnson took aim at both the fans and his teammates, claiming that he was “tired” of the harassment he faced from fans and even accusing some players of being “scared” to embrace the city. “It’s true,” he said. “Like, when you playing for teams like Detroit, New Orleans, and Philly, you got to be able to get outside and adapt with the culture. There’s only a couple of guys in that locker room that did it. It’s not like a derogatory statement, it’s just being honest. I got so much love cause I’m actually out in the city and enjoying people, the culture, the music, the food. There’s only a couple people can do that.”
Gardner-Johnson believed that he would be re-signed by the Lions after the season but was left disillusioned when the team changed their stance after the playoffs. When asked who was at fault for the miscommunication, he didn’t hesitate, saying, “Everybody.” As for the front office, he clarified, “It was just certain people at front office that just, business is business. Whatever. I’m not upset.”
Now, as the Eagles prepare for their Super Bowl showdown, Gardner-Johnson can look back on his career with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that he’s made it to the grand stage while leaving his tumultuous past with the Lions behind. Meanwhile, Detroit continues to rebuild following a successful 15-2 season but a heartbreaking NFC title game loss.
