Super Bowl champion CJ Gardner-Johnson explains decision to skip Eagles White House visit

C.J. Gardner-Johnson's 2nd stint with the Philadelphia Eagles proved to beryllium a palmy one. 

Although the Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, the information earned a Super Bowl LIX title ringing owed to his efforts past season.

Gardner-Johnson recorded 14 full tackles this past postseason. Philadelphia dominated the Kansas City Chiefs successful February's Super Bowl, which granted Gardner-Johnson an invitation to Washington connected Monday. The 27-year-old yet declined the invitation.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson of the Eagles reacts during the NFC Divisional playoff crippled against the New York Giants astatine Lincoln Financial Field connected Jan. 21, 2023, successful Philadelphia. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

During a societal media livestream connected Tuesday, Gardner-Johnson explained wherefore helium did not be the title solemnisation astatine the White House with his erstwhile teammates.

"This is wherefore I didn't spell to the White House, I was getting fat," Gardner-Johnson said during the unrecorded watercourse arsenic helium ate what appeared to beryllium a granola bar. "If immoderate of them radical ask, I was getting abdominous astatine the crib."

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The antiaircraft backmost past cited his evident discomfort with the covering helium would've worn to the celebratory lawsuit fixed his carnal appearance.

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

"This is the existent reason," Gardner-Johnson said. "I didn't privation to spell to the White House due to the fact that I didn't privation to person to enactment connected that choky (expletive) suit...

"To beryllium up determination successful that choky suit similar [imitates wearing a suit], naw naw. I couldn't bash it, bro."

Gardner-Johnson was 1 of respective notable erstwhile oregon existent Eagles stars who opted against making an quality connected Monday. The travel was not mandatory for players.

Darius Slay, who spent past play moving alongside Gardner-Johnson successful the Eagles secondary, skipped the visit, NBC Sports Philadelphia reported. Slay signed a one-year woody with the Pittsburgh Steelers successful March.

Head manager Nick Sirianni, left, and violative tackle Lane Johnson basal adjacent to President Donald Trump arsenic helium honors the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles astatine the White House connected April 28, 2025. (Josh Morgan-USA Today via Imagn Images)

Eagles backmost Jalen Hurts and wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith besides did not marque the travel to the White House.

Hurts, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, explained his lack by saying helium had a "scheduling conflict."

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Meanwhile, Eagles moving backmost Saquon Barkley did spell to Washington. He sparked a wide scope of reactions aft helium golfed with the president astatine Trump National Golf Club Bedminster successful New Jersey. He was besides seen boarding Marine One for his travel backmost to Washington.

Barkley aboriginal took to societal media to code the attraction his actions drew. "Now ya get retired my mentions with each this authorities and person astonishing day," helium wrote.

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