C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, recently shared his thoughts on being traded to the Houston Texans. In a candid conversation, he emphasized that there was no animosity between him and the Eagles. Gardner-Johnson, who signed a three-year, $27 million contract with Philadelphia last March, revealed he initially thought the trade news was a prank.
During a video that circulated on social media, the 27-year-old expressed surprise at the trade, saying, “I ain’t gonna lie, I thought it was April Fool’s.” He clarified that he holds no grudges and only had one request when he left: to be traded to a team where he could play winning football. “I didn’t ask for a specific place… I want to play winning football,” he said.
Gardner-Johnson acknowledged the Eagles’ need to pay younger players, mentioning teammates like Jalen Carter and Reed Blankenship. He understood the situation and reiterated that there were no hard feelings. “It was an amazing phone call to be all the way thorough,” he added, noting that he woke up the next day to find out he would be joining the Texans.
The Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson for former first-round guard Kenyon Green and received a fifth-round pick in 2026. Houston, in return, got Gardner-Johnson and a sixth-round pick in the same draft. Gardner-Johnson played a key role in the Eagles’ success last season, contributing six interceptions and one defensive touchdown. He was part of the team that won the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs in February, marking a high point in his career.
This trade is part of a series of offseason moves for the Eagles, who have also seen linebacker Josh Sweat sign a lucrative deal with the Cardinals and retained linebacker Zack Baun on a significant contract. The team is making adjustments as they prepare for the upcoming season, and Gardner-Johnson’s move to Houston is a significant part of that shift.