'Surrounding myself with superstars' | Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is excited to bring a spark to the Buffalo Bills' defense

Mar 13, 2026 at 04:48 PM

Sydney Ciano

Seasonal writing associate

A new safety is in town for the Buffalo Bills.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed his one-year contract at One Bills Drive, and he's ready to bring a spark to the Bills' refreshed defense under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

"I feel like defense needs the entertainment too," Gardner-Johnson said. "Offense has all the accolades and the cameras, so the defense, give a little spark to it."

Gardner-Johnson was a fourth round pick out of Florida. New Orleans drafted him 105^th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he spent three seasons with the Saints.

During his time in New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson overlapped with Buffalo's new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. He also played for head coach Sean Payton during his stint with the Saints – a coach who Bills head coach Joe Brady was influenced by during his coaching journey.

Also while in New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson played with new defensive quality control coach Craig Robertson.

"They know me, since Sean Payton when he drafted me So a lot of us, [head coach Joe Brady] was familiar with my face and my game, and he watched my tape," Gardner-Johnson explained as to why Buffalo felt like the right fit. "Going to Buffalo and getting a formal meeting with everybody, introducing themselves face to face, was something that hit it off."

Gardner-Johnson is ready to help bring a Super Bowl championship to the Bills. Knowing that the locker room in Buffalo is dedicated to that goal and has its sights set on nothing less is important to the safety.

"A chance to win with a good quarterback. Josh [Allen] is phenomenal," Gardner-Johnson said. "[Be] a part of a team that has a fighting chance every Sunday, and I just have to [rebuild] and [find] my identity again … go out there [and] just be you playing football with guys that [have] been playing at a high caliber. Surrounding myself with superstars."

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Gardner-Johnson was traded in Aug. 2022 to Philadelphia. In 2023, he signed a one-year deal with the Lions, then rejoined the Eagles for the 2024 season that concluded with a Super Bowl LIX victory over Kansas City.

Across 16 games, starting in each, Gardner-Johnson logged 59 tackles, 12 passes defensed, six interceptions, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble. One of his interceptions he returned for a touchdown. He also started in all four playoff games for Philadelphia and had 14 total tackles.

Gardner-Johnson's experience playing on a Super Bowl-winning team is valuable to Brady and his staff. It's not just about being an experienced veteran, it's about being an experienced veteran who knows how to win.

"Having champions around, not necessarily being older guys, [but] having a champion around really means something," Gardner-Johnson said. "It gravitated [people to] you … bringing that experience in the room and when people ask, 'How does it feel?' We have that background to tell them and actually know what it takes to get to that level."

Gardner-Johnson's 2025 season was split between Houston and Chicago.

He played and started in the first three games of the season before the Texans released him. Before the Bears picked him up, he spent a week on Baltimore's practice squad. On Oct. 29, 2025, Chicago signed Gardner-Johnson.

Over 10 regular season games for the Bears, he recorded 51 tackles, five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, four passes defensed, three sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He also made seven starts. In the postseason, he appeared and started in one game, registering four tackles and one pass defensed.

Now integrating into a new locker room and new city, Gardner-Johnson is concerned about his craft. He said production on the field — practice and game day — speaks volumes. He characterized his playing style as physical, feisty, one that toes the line and having a chip on his shoulder.

Gardner-Johnson said he encourages his teammates to meet him at that level as well. For the Bills, that's safety Cole Bishop who enters year three in 2026.

"Being a little bit younger, a little bit more explosive, able to make crazy plays, … play all around," Gardner-Johnson said of Bishop. "It's going to be great. I feel [like it's] going to be a great duo … just feeding off each other, ready to make plays. And really, I think we're going to drive the defense to do what we want to do: take the ball away and play aggressive, over the top."

On the opposite side of the ball, though Gardner-Johnson didn't play against Allen personally, he saw what the Bills' star quarterback accomplished against some of his former teammates.

"It's going to bring another edge to this team," he said of the way Allen and himself attack the game. "We got a two-headed monster that can really go at you, but in a way where we can make plays and affect the game, actually win the game for our team."

Meeting his new teammates isn't something he's worried about, especially after the 2025 season where he gave three teams "a little dose of" who he is.

"Productivity speaks for itself," Gardner-Johnson said. "So, I think really just getting in and learning the playbook as fast as you can to continue to be a high productive player … [is] the best thing you could do."

That responsibility and accountability piece is something he values. That also means taking on whatever role the Bills need him to.

"I play all over … I play high, play low, play d-line, go get a couple sacks. Oh my," Gardner-Johnson said. "Open mind … wherever coach put me up, I'm playing ball."

That's exactly what Gardner-Johnson looks forward to with the Bills: playing the game.

"Focus on ball," Gardner-Johnson said. "Because that's what Buffalo is."

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