Bears' CJ Gardner-Johnson Downplays Return to Philad...

By Jenn McGrawShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Former Philadelhpia Eagles and current Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson isn't as excited to revisit his old team.

Gardner-Johnson came to Philadelphia via trade after three years with the New Orleans Saints. After the departures of Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod, Gardner-Johnson was a starter, racking up great numbers with the team and eventually helping lead them to another Super Bowl appearance, where they fell 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Lions in the offseason, but it wasn't long before he was back for a second stint with the Eagles – this time, ending in a Super Bowl victory. During that season, he had 35 combined tackles and six interceptions for 116 yards and one touchdown.

He bounced around with a few teams in the 2025 season before sticking with the Bears a little less than a month ago. So far, Gardner-Johnson has accumulated 15 combined tackles and three sacks.

When he returns to Lincoln Financial Field on Black Friday, however, he's pretty indifferent about his time in Philly.

"I got shipped off, so it didn't last too long," Gardner-Johnson said. "It's a new season, time to move on."

While the Eagles face a bit of an identity crisis with a struggling offense, the Bears are on fire right now. Both teams sit at 8-3, while the Bears come off of an energetic win against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, the Eagles are fired up following a loss to their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.

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