Before the Chicago Bears came calling two weeks ago, an "NFL pariah" languished at home for much of the 2025 season. Now, he's fast becoming a hero in the Windy City.
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As Chicago's defense was hit by a rash of injuries, the club turned to free agent defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson for help, despite his burning through two short-lived stints with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens just this year. Gardner was signed on Oct. 29 to help replaced nickel corner Kyler Gordon.
“It’s just a blessing to be here,” Gardner-Johnson said, per Phil Thompson of The Chicago Tribune. Thompson observes that Gardner-Johnson had been quickly becoming an "NFL pariah" after burning through so many teams. “I was home for a month and a half. The narratives and scrutiny."
Gardner-Johnson's redemption arc
Gardner-Johnson had a big impact in the Bears' 24-20 home win against the lowly New York Giants on Sunday. He forced a fumble from Giants signal caller Jaxson Dart in the third quarter, helping salvage the contest. Chicago eventually came back after trailing by 10 points in the fourth frame. Gardner-Johnson also notched a pair of sacks.
“But when you run (into) a great group of people, a great group of coaches that believe in you, people (who) believe in you, I think all that goes out the window when they can see a person and you come in and just adapt and adjust," Gardner-Johnson reflected on his Bears tenure. "Come in and play right away, make an impact on the team.”
With the win, Chicago improves to a surprisingly good 6-3 record during its first season under new head coach Ben Johnson.
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