CJ Gardner-Johnson can still play, reunites with Dennis Allen, and fills a need with how banged up the Bears secondary is. We also know he’s a ticking time bomb with a short shelf life.

Hopefully he makes some big plays before the clock runs out. pic.twitter.com/qNnRTZSLLm

— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) October 29, 2025

The Chicago Bears added reinforcements to the secondary with the signing of safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who recently had a visit with the team at Halas Hall.

The Bears have been decimated by injuries in the secondary, where their top two cornerbacks in Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are currently on injured reserve with Tyrique Stevenson nursing a shoulder injury. While Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker have been a solid safety duo, Gardner-Johnson most likely comes to Chicago to play in the slot, where a huge void has been left by Gordon.

Gardner-Johnson also reunites with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who coached him for three years in New Orleans.

Gardner-Johnson, a fourth round in the 2019 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints, spent three seasons with the Saints before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, where he had his best season with six interceptions, 67 total tackles, including five tackles for loss, and eight pass breakups. He most recently won a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2024.

As you can imagine, there was plenty of reaction to Chicago’s latest move to sign Gardner-Johnson. Some recognize the importance of adding reinforcements to the secondary, especially reunited with Allen, while others aren’t a big fan of the move.

NFL world reacts to Bears signing Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

A guy on his third team this year is never ideal, but the Bears are depleted and it’s almost November so the street free agent pickings are slim. https://t.co/f0fMldgoS8

— Sam Householder (@SamHouseholder) October 29, 2025

Well this is different for Ryan Poles. In his tenure, the Bears have steered clear of guys with character concerns.

Must be the Dennis Allen impact. Bears got a versatile S who can play slot CB in nickel and dime packages. https://t.co/r6t7d9cPjJ

— Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) October 29, 2025

Desperate times come with desperate measures. He’s like your college buddy who is a lot of fun when he comes into town but he’s also going to get into a bar fight and hit on your wife before you kick him out. https://t.co/5tK6qOb4G8

— Ross Read (@RossRead) October 29, 2025

This is the kind of signing the Bears would never make in past years. It’s Ben Johnson’s team.

When he’s not making coaches want to claw their brains out, the dude can still play.

And they desperately need functional bodies at this point. https://t.co/ViIbIRWcPK

— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 29, 2025