Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson said he was honest with the Eagles during a phone call before they traded him to the Texans on Tuesday.
Gardner-Johnson, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with Philadelphia last March, explained there was “no bad blood” — and he said he had one request for the Eagles on his way out.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I thought it was April Fool’s,” the 27-year-old said, as seen in a video that circulated on social media. “… I was like they damn sure got mem they playing crazy with me right now. But naw, it wasn’t no love lost. It wasn’t no bad blood.
CJGJ reacts to the #Eagles trading him: “It was no bad blood.. Them young guys just gotta get paid down there.. All I asked them was to trade me somewhere I can play winning football, and I woke up and boom there it is, we in Houston”
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) March 11, 2025
“… It was an amazing phone call to be all the way thorough. The situation is, them young guys just gotta get paid in Philly, [defensive tackle] Jalen Carter, [safety] Reed [Blankenship] and [linebacker] Zack [Baun]… Me getting older, I understand. There was no bad blood.
“… All I asked them was like, between me and y’all, I told them, I just want to go somewhere where I can go play winning football. I didn’t ask for a specific place… I want to play winning football. I woke up the next day and and boom there it is, we in Houston.”
Gardner-Johnson won his first Super Bowl with the Birds in February when they routed the Chiefs, 40-22.
The Eagles traded him to the Texans for former first-round guard Kenyon Green, according to NFL Network.
Philadelphia also received a 2026 fifth-round pick while Houston gets Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-rounder.
Gardner-Johnson recorded six interceptions and one defensive touchdown last season for Philadelphia.
His departure came after a slew of offseason moves from the reigning Super Bowl champs.
On Monday, linebacker Josh Sweat agreed to a four-year deal worth $76.4 million with the Cardinals.
Philadelphia retained Baun on a three-year, $51 million deal last Wednesday.
The Eagles released veteran cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry.
