KC Concepcion
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: K C Concepcion of the Texas A&M Aggies participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears free agent cornerback CJ Gardner-Johnson made sure to show his love and appreciation towards draft prospect and former Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion after people online were mocking him for his speech impediment during interviews at the NFL Combine.
“KC Concepcion, got my respect! My best friend in the league plays for the eagles Andre Sam @SamMoney_1, great guy guy teammate we both understand you 🫡
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Gardner-Johnson also retweeted ESPN’s Ryan Clark’s post, which states, “Man!! Keep going KC Concepcion. Was inspiring to see you at the combine. Love what you represented, how you spoke, and never shrunk. Any goofy with something to say is just that… GOOFY! Blessings young man and can’t wait to see where you end up. Always a fan!”
KC Concepcion Turns Hate Into Inspiration
Despite suffering from a speech impediment, Concepcion was brave enough to step up to the podium and try his best to answer any questions the media had for him. Some people took to social media and made fun of him, and rather than retaliate, he took it as a way to open up about his speech impediment and send a powerful message.
“I just wanna say something if you have a speech impediment, there is nothing wrong with us. I have had this stutter since I can remember talking. This is part of me. This is who I am. I cannot control this. I wanna be a role model for those who may be afraid and not confident in yourself. I stand with you.
This weekend has taught me a lot about myself and people out here in this world. I appreciate everyone who supports me and has reached out to me after these interviews. Don’t let an outside person’s thoughts, opinions, get in the way of you being great and of you achieving something in life.
I am blessed to be in the position that I am in and I want to help give back to those who are scared to speak up who aren’t as confident. I stand with you, I will always stand with you. We are different for a reason. God has blessed my life in a way I couldn’t even imagine in this past year, I love yall and support yall as we climb this mountain together. #stopthenegativity”
It’s an extremely inspiring message, and in a world filled with so much hate, it’s refreshing to see all the love people have shown Concepcion after a few bad apples were mocking him online.
CJ Gardner-Johnson Returning to the Bears?
CJ Gardner-Johnson
GettyC.J. Gardner-Johnson #35 of the Chicago Bears runs on to the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears signed Gardner-Johnson midseason to help shore up an injury-plagued cornerback group, and he delivered.
He finished the season, appearing in 11 games (including playoffs) with 55 total tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and five pass deflections.
Like many Bears’ free agents, Gardner-Johnson has expressed his interest in returning with the team, and ESPN’s Bill Barnwell projects an annual salary worth around $2-5 million.
“Gardner-Johnson earned $7.3 million for three games with the Texans before being cut, spent a week with the Ravens, then joined the Bears, and quickly became a regular. The league’s foremost trash talker was part of big plays for both sides of the ball, as he created three takeaways and racked up three sacks … and allowed three touchdowns. He’ll get another opportunity to play regularly somewhere in 2026, but the fact that Gardner-Johnson has changed teams six times in four years is a testament to both the positives and frustrations he brings to the table.”
Even with the frustrations he’s brought to some teams, Gardner-Johnson meshed well with the rest of the squad in Chicago. If the Bears can bring him back closer to that $2 million APY price point, it should be a no-brainer move.