C.J. Gardner-Johnson is one-and-done at Al Harris University.
The defensive back, who played 10 games for the Bears last season, is signing a one-year deal to join the Buffalo Bills. And just like that, his short-lived stint in Chicago is over:
Former Bears free-agent safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson is signing a one-year deal worth up to $6 million with the Buffalo Bills, per his agents Kevin Conner and Robert Brown of @unisportsmgmt. pic.twitter.com/hQBVproZ3h
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2026pic.twitter.com/8WXSPcJMvx
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 12, 2026C.J. Gardner-Johnson takes his talents to the Buffalo Bills
A one-time Bears adversary, C.J. Gardner-Johnson came to Chicago when the team was desperate for help in the secondary. Reuniting with Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen (who had him while with the New Orleans Saints) and Head Coach Ben Johnson (who saw what CJGJ could do while the two were pulling on the same side of the rope with the Detroit Lions) helped turned the defensive back’s season around. A year that began with Gardner-Johnson being moved from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Houston Texans, then from the Texans to the Baltimore Ravens ultimately ended with him playing a key role on Chicago’s defense. Who saw that coming?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson came up with a pair of interceptions, three sacks, five tackles-for-loss, and five quarterback hits in the 10 games (seven starts) he played in Chicago. Gardner-Johnson was all over the stat sheet while seemingly playing everywhere on the defense. The 2025 season saw CJGJ line up as a slot cornerback (390 snaps), in the box (269), at free safety (86), and even as a boundary corner (14) on rare occasions. That type of versatility proved to be vital for a Bears defense that had injuries in the secondary throughout the year. And for that, I will always be thankful (as a Bears fan) for his contributions.
Plus, it was fun to root on a known agitator for a change.
Looking ahead, the Bears will see C.J. Gardner-Johnson next season when they travel to Buffalo to face the Bills. The Chicago to Buffalo pipeline that saw DJ Moore moved to the Bills remains strong. I hope the 2026 Bears are better prepared to face Gardner-Johnson’s antics than the team was in 2020.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson sacks Russell Wilson at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesTHE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
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