C.J. Gardner-Johnson's future with the Chicago Bears is a cloud hanging above the Windy City just over two weeks before free agency begins. The 28-year-old defensive back is slated to hit the open market after a standout season with the Bears, and even though fans would welcome a reunion, that could be easier said than done with the team sitting $4.1 million above the salary cap, per OverTheCap.
Spotrac is projecting that Gardner-Johnson will command a $2.8 million annual salary next month, which isn't absurd by any means. Despite how affordable that theoretical deal would be, though, it sounds like the veteran DB isn't interested in signing any sort of new deal with the Bears.
On Saturday, YouTuber/streamer Raud asked Gardner-Johnson if he'd be willing to return to his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, in free agency (h/t @CooperDeJawn3). The pending Bears free agent didn't hesitate with his response, saying," Hell yeah... Tell them boys to get with me."
C.J. Gardner-Johnson May Have Closed the Door on Potential Bears Return
If the Bears were hoping to hammer out a new deal with Gardner-Johnson, they might want to change their mind. His interest in reuniting with the Eagles couldn't be more obvious from the clip, and even though there's time to reverse course, Chicago might not want to do business with someone whose foot might already be out the door.
It's a bit surprising that Gardner-Johnson would want to return to Philly after the Eagles traded him to the Houston Texans after their Super Bowl 59 win. After the Texans released him in September, he experienced a three-week run with the Baltimore Ravens, ultimately leading to his Windy City arrival at the end of October.
Reuniting Gardner-Johnson with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who was his head coach in New Orleans, was a genius plan. The former Super Bowl-winning defender's versatility helped him make the most of his 10 regular-season appearances (seven starts) with the Bears, resulting in 35 solo tackles, four defended passes, three sacks, and a pair of interceptions.
As impactful as he was at times, Gardner-Johnson's performance wasn't perfect. According to Pro Football Focus, he still allowed 11.3 yards per reception (second-worst rate of his career) while missing 17.9% of his tackles. His coverage also became less reliable with time, allowing an average of 48.0 yards in his last six games compared to 13.6 in his first five games with Chicago. That's a difference too big to ignore.
Between his regressing performance and a desire to return to Philly, Gardner-Johnson closing the door on a potential Bears return might not be the worst-case scenario. Again, Chicago should only want committed players on its roster, and a split here would allow general manager Ryan Poles to focus on the other names in the secondary who need new contracts (Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, etc.).
Gardner-Johnson played a key part in the Bears' defensive success last season, but that doesn't make him untouchable — especially if staying isn't a priority. It's in Chicago's best interest to turn the page, using free agency and the 2026 NFL draft to help add reinforcements who are interested in being part of what the franchise is building.