Buffalo Bills Revive Old Glory with Star CJ Gardner-Johnson Back
The Buffalo Bills are adding another piece to their defensive secondary with the addition of former Florida Gator safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Former Florida Gators safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson has found his next NFL home.
The 2019 fourth-round selection is signing back with the Buffalo Bills as part of the 2026 free-agency cycle. Johnson's pro career spans eight seasons, where he played for five franchises. Gardner agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, according to ESPN .
The acquisition gives Buffalo experience in the defensive secondary and is the third outside defensive free agent signing by the Bills this week, joining linebacker Bradley Chubb and cornerback Dee Alford. This retooling comes as the franchise transitions to a new defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard. His most productive seasons came with Philadelphia , where he led the league in interceptions in 2022.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 210-pound Johnson tallied six interceptions on two separate occasions with the Eagles. During this stretch, Johnson was a key piece in the Eagles' Super Bowl run in 2024-25. The 27-year-old safety entered the league as a fourth-round selection of the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 draft.