C.J. Gardner-Johnson excited to reunite with Dennis Allen | Chicago Bears

What’s been the process like of trying to find a landing spot here the last couple weeks? Um, find a spot that’s good for me, I’m good for them. Uh, locker room fit and a great fit between me and the coaches in the front office. That was really what it’s all about. Not really nothing personal. Make sure I make the right decision and come to help the right organization. What makes this good for you? Uh, Coach D gave me a chance when I was a rookie, uh, 2019. So, and I played with Coach Ben in Detroit, went to the NFC championship. So talking to them too on the phone and hearing how much they care about me, understand as a player that they’re here for me. So this is right spot for me. Is it important to you to come to a place that needs someone like you right now? It’s not more so needs. More so uh coming to a place where I’m comfortable with the the culture. Um this team is already good before me. They won with four straight, five straight. Uh a loss doesn’t deteriorate this team who they are. They’re good. I’m just coming in to add extra fire, extra skill to the back end. I’m happy to be here. Appreciate Coach Al and Da. Have you played for DA before? How quickly can you get up to speed to be ready to go? I see you Sunday. So when Ben Johnson says if he’s ready, you’re already saying no. You’ll be good to go. I’m just doing what coaches tell me to do. So I can be ready Sunday. Um hopefully they give me a chance Sunday. They give me opportunity to come in the building. So I just be ready on Sunday when it’s time to go. Did DA make you do your updowns? They’re coming. 40. They’re coming. They’re coming. I know. I know. They’re coming. They’re coming. What about your experience with DA made this like feel like a comfortable spot for you? We won a lot of ball together in New Orleans and um the model was the same car care for me as a player, as a person and at time when I was younger, he the message was always the same. So I think coming here him understanding what I can do and coming to a locker room as veteran presence uh I can adapt easier and understand that uh if I need help I can just go ask. I think that’s the biggest thing he taught me first three years is if you need help ask question ask the guys around you go to your teammates and shout out to KB uh Brisk uh Bris uh Grady Jared Caleb Walter to me. So guys like that just it just back up what he’s saying. It’s a great locker room and guys just really helped me win. Well, you have a history with with the Bears from a few years back with Javon Wims and Anthony Miller. Does that pop through your head thinking back about those guys? No. No. No. What’ you say to Anthony Miller that day? Made a mad. It was three years ago. Four years ago, I don’t know. Five years ago. Five years ago. I don’t know. Houston. Gave me a great opportunity. Uh, appreciate the front office and the coaches. It just didn’t pan out. Uh, is what it is. Nothing bad. I appreciate for really going there and having a chance to help another young team. But like I said, organization want to go the opposite way. Nothing bad. Just like I said, appreciate the opportunity. They did nothing wrong to me and I did nothing wrong there. It’s just not a fit. Just I make sure we do everything right to make sure it’s a fit here and we win games. What’s it been like for you the last month trying to to find your next your next landing spot? Um actually been pretty relaxed and chill. Got time to think to myself and understand who I am as a player and what I can do in this league. actually leading league and picks and stuff like that is more than just that. It’s about being a great teammate and doing things in the community and in the locker room to help help the guys adapt and be around you more. Do you look at yourself as like an instigator on the field? Are you trying to get in the opponent’s head? What do you look at? Uh I don’t think I instigate nothing on the field, but if we take it that way, I mean just being a fiery player and ready to compete and win. CJ, what do you like about playing? Um really that’s how I started my career. Uh give me a chance to get closer to the ball, make plays, and make it easy on the guys in the back end. When I’m closer to the ball, uh coach Da and coach Ben know what I can do. Uh like I said, cuz DA drafted me. So the scheme is actually it actually molded me to who I am was today. So I’m appreciative of that. Is it like I mean you’ve been playing safety for the last couple years. Like what is the transition like in going from that to be playing back nickel? Um probably not making the call. probably gota listen to it and take it in and go execute. So I think probably execute at a high level right now is for me and doing seeing what’s in front of me so I can play fast. Couple more of your experience with with just coming in here and uh there’s a lot of winning ball. Oh man, I can go and on about the guy. I’m just like I said I’m just appreciative to be here man. He didn’t. A lot of opportunities have came, but this probably was the best one for me. At this point, at this point in your career, how important is playing time? Like knowing that I just want to help win. Win Super Bowl last year. Sometimes not about being the star of the team. Sometimes about being the guy to get the things done the right way and helping guys get things done the right way. and being on Super Bowl team last year, you can see how guys go about things and being able to adapt and adjust to your game and really just teach and be a student of the game as the game go on. Why do you say this is your best opportunity? Fresh start. Last one. How do you respond to the accusations of how you just prove that maybe while you’re here? I don’t got to say nothing. Long as I stay in the building, do I need to do? I don’t got to answer none of those question. I think being in the building with a good team is going to answer itself.

Newest Bears defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson addresses the media Wednesday at Halas Hall.

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23 comments

  5. CJ Gardner was a top 15 ranked safety when he was actually playing. just hope he does his job, thats all we can hope for. all the other bs is just noise

  7. Glad he gave the guy the "Look" who just had to ask the dumb question about 5 years ago. THOSE PLAYERS were not good enough to stick around and they are LONG GONE!!!! once again the Chicago media sucks bigtime.

  14. I feel like this is the type of player the defense needed some that is going to be a Jalen Ramsey type player the bringing that attitude and getting into other players heads give the defense character that high energy he plays with that’s the same thing the offense needs kind like what Amon ra st brown bring to the lions it gives the team an identity and it’s hype to the team go out and play with that high energy

  16. Ever the optimist, but I'm a bit concerned how the refs have been calling Bears games this year whether the resulting pros will outweigh the cons. Still happy with the signing. Much needed.

  20. This pick up is sneaky good‼️‼️‼️ he knows the scheme, is saavy, big hitter and disruptor. Plus he's flexible. A 3 safety look is wild to think about. Lotta turnovers can be had..🐻🔽 Get Rique & Kyler back and whew‼️‼️

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