Desperate times require desperate measures, and the Chicago Bears needed to do something last season to give themselves a chance on defense. Injuries depleted their secondary to the point where they rolled the dice on veteran free agent C.J. Gardner-Johnson, whom the rest of the league had seemingly passed on.
Gardner-Johnson is an experienced and versatile defensive back who can play at safety and cornerback, but he comes with some baggage and a complicated reputation. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen knew it, yet he still pushed for a reunion.
His time in the Windy City was a mixed bag. And, given his recent social media activity and the Bears' salary cap situation, it looked like he wasn't going to return next season. However, that might not be the case after all.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Might Not be Done in Chicago After All
The former Super Bowl champion stirred the pot on social media again. He shared some pictures of himself working out on X, captioned "Al Harris University." Then, when fans asked him whether he wanted to enroll for another semester, he jokingly replied that he'd do it as long as he'd get first and second period off, adding that he learned a lot from Harris.
Bears DB coach Al Harris has helped multiple cornerbacks enjoy All-Pro-caliber seasons and reach career highs in interceptions. Regardless of whether he returns or not, Gardner-Johnson is doing the right thing by picking his brain for as long as he can.
According to Over The Cap, the Bears are $4.11 million over the salary cap. That said, Gardner-Johnson has a projected market value of just $2.3 million, so GM Ryan Poles could find a way to work things out if there's mutual interest in extending this partnership. He's more than familiar with the defensive system.
Jaquan Brisker is likely on his way out, and Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson struggled to stay healthy last season. Gardner-Johnson has a reputation for burning bridges and being difficult to deal with, but he should know this might be his last chance to stay in the league, even at just 28 years old.
He finished the season with 51 total tackles, five tackles for loss, five QB hits, four pass breakups, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in ten games (seven starts). He has extensive postseason experience as a former Super Bowl champion, and given the lack of potential low-budget options for the secondary, perhaps keeping him around for a little longer makes too much sense for all parties involved.
Whether Poles and the coaching staff agree remains to be seen.