Ex-Eagles star CJ Gardner-Johnson ‘still shocked’ by trade decision after Super Bowl LIX victory

The joyousness of winning the Super Bowl had hardly worn disconnected erstwhile C.J. Gardner-Johnson learned of his commercialized to the Houston Texans. Even now, the erstwhile Philadelphia Eagles antiaircraft prima is inactive shocked by the abrupt decision.

Gardner-Johnson was a cardinal constituent in the Eagles’ top-ranked defence past season, but connected March 11, helium was traded to the Texans successful speech for defender Kenyon Green and a swap of late-round draught picks. 

Philadelphia Eagles information C.J. Gardner-Johnson practices earlier Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs successful New Orleans, Feb. 9, 2025. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

"To beryllium honorable with you, I'm inactive shocked, but I'm happy," Gardner-Johnson said of the commercialized connected Tuesday, via NFL.com 

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"New, caller start, conscionable caller guys. I deliberation the biggest happening I've noticed is this squad is precise young. So, being 1 of the oldest guys successful the room, you've got to recognize we're present for business, present to person fun, but we're besides present to triumph football. So, being astir those guys, I benignant of got a consciousness for them archetypal mates of days and however to spell astir things here."

Gardner-Johnson recorded six interceptions successful his 2nd stint with the Eagles. He antecedently played successful Philadelphia successful 2022, earlier returning successful 2024 connected a three-year deal. He became the team’s starting information and registered 3 tackles successful the Eagles’ 40-22 triumph implicit the Kansas City Chiefs successful Super Bowl LIX.

Philadelphia Eagles information C.J. Gardner-Johnson celebrates aft winning Super Bowl LIX astatine Caesars Superdome connected Feb. 9, 2025. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

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Despite his surprise, Gardner-Johnson said the latest determination successful his NFL vocation was to his benefit. 

"I deliberation it was a large determination for me. I deliberation it allowed maine not to get excessively comfortable," helium said. 

"People person to recognize I was comfy wherever I was at. It was easy. When I accidental easy, it was I had resources I could easy access, radical I could conscionable spell speech to. I deliberation moving here, being the older guy, I really person to turn up. That's a comic statement, but increasing up and teaching guys it's much than conscionable football. Being traded aggregate times, I deliberation radical would shadiness it by the things I've done successful the league. But successful reality, I conscionable emotion playing football."

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney runs for a touchdown past Eagles information C.J. Gardner-Johnson astatine Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia, Sept. 16, 2024. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

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For the Eagles, the determination to determination connected from Gardner-Johnson appeared to beryllium strictly financial.

"Every dollar that you walk is simply a dollar little that you tin walk connected immoderate of these younger players that possibly you privation to retain," wide manager Howie Roseman said past period astatine the NFL’s yearly league meeting, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Getting retired successful beforehand of it was important to us. And again, hard decisions. Not asking anyone to hold with them, but that's portion of our job."

Fox News' Chantz Martin contributed to this report. 

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