Five years ago Saturday, Bears receiver Javon Wims was ejected for twice punching Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a notorious pest who was once slugged by his own teammate, Michael Thomas, in New Orleans.
Two months later, the Bears were set to play the Saints in the first round of the playoffs when coaches held a meeting specifically to tell their players not to engage with Gardner-Johnson. Receiver Anthony Miller punched him anyway and was ejected from the playoff loss.
Later, chairman George McCaskey said he had a bigger issue with Miller’s ejection.
“They sat him down and they told him, ‘Listen, watch out for this player. He’s a punk,’” McCaskey said then.
Miller never played another snap for the Bears.
Amazingly, Gardner-Johnson is about to play his first.
The Bears signed Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal Wednesday and plan to play him as their slot cornerback as early as Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. He took every snap at practice Wednesday.
He’s intercepted a whopping 18 balls in seven years and started 16 games for the Super Bowl champion Eagles a year ago. His reputation, though, precedes him. He’s a pest on the field — and often off it.
Gardner-Johnson said he didn’t remember much about fighting the Bears in 2020, the year he had a league-high four unnecessary roughness flags. He had two unsportsmanlike penalty flags against the Commanders last year and was ejected. Player polls conducted by The Athletic named him the biggest trash-talker in 2023 and most annoying player in 2024.
Since March, he’s been traded by the Eagles and cut by both the Texans and, after just a week, the Ravens. Asked to respond to accusations he was difficult in Houston, where he played three games, he smiled.
“I don’t gotta say nothing,” he said. “As long as I stay in the building and do what I need to do, I don’t gotta answer none of those questions. I think being in the building with a good team is going to answer itself.”
Safety Kevin Byard, a team captain, compared him to former Bulls agitator Dennis Rodman.
“You need somebody to go in there and kind of be that spark,” he said.
For a team that ranks near the top of the NFL in penalties and is trying to build a strong culture under a first-year head coach, the signing of Gardner-Johnson is a curious choice. The Bears are desperate for help with nickelback Kyler Gordon being put on injured reserve Saturday with a groin/calf issue, and are confident their locker room can handle a noisy addition.
“We’ve got a positive veteran influence in there,” Johnson said. “I feel very strongly about that group. And nothing is more important than our locker room.”
Gardner-Johnson has experience in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system, having played for the Saints from 2019-21. He played for Johnson’s Lions in 2023, though he was limited to three games because of a pec injury. Johnson said the Bears leaned on that shared experience but also checked in with coaches who have worked with him more recently.
Gardner-Johnson’s experience in Allen’s system should make him a quick study this week. He played only about 10% of his snaps in the slot last year. Under Allen, he played 55% of his snaps in the slot.
“When I’m closer to the ball, coach D.A. and coach Ben know what I can do,” Gardner-Johnson said. “Because D.A … actually molded me to who I am today.”
Johnson, who turns 28 in December, considers the Bears a comfortable fit. Time will tell whether the feeling is mutual — the Bears hope Gordon can be back in a month.
As for Gardner-Johnson’s reputation as an instigator?
“I don’t feel like instigating on the field,” he said, “but if you take it that way, it’s just being a fiery player and ready to compete and win.”
