The Houston Texans have seen a ton of change this offseason as they prepare for the 2025 season. The Texans want to make it past the divisional round and decided to make some movement on the roster.
One surprising addition was the acquisition of C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Back on March 11, Houston traded G Kenyon Green in exchange for Gardner-Johnson, which boosted the secondary.
Now that a couple of weeks have passed, head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke about Gardner-Johnson at the NFL Owner's Meetings.
Ryans said, "A lot of Philly people want to know — I should be asking you guys! You guys are upset he left, so I'm excited to get him. I feel his passion for the game, his love for football, it jumps off the tape. I'm excited to work with him. I'm excited to see what he brings to our team. You're talking about a guy now with Super Bowl experience."
DeMeco Ryans on C.J. Gardner-Johnson: "A lot of Philly people want to know — I should be asking you guys! You guys are upset he left, so I'm excited to get him. I feel his passion for the game, his love for football, it jumps off the tape. I'm excited to work with him. I'm…
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) March 31, 2025
DeMeco Ryans Comments on the Addition of C.J. Gardner Johnson
Ryans comments showcase that he understands that Eagles fans weren't thrilled with his departure, showcasing how he was viewed among Philadelphia's fanbase.
Gardner-Johnson had two different stints with the Eagles, but each time, he helped stabilize the secondary on the field while being a vocal leader.
In 28 games with the Eagles, he racked up 126 total tackles, seven TFLs, 20 pass deflections, and 12 interceptions. He was able to snag six interceptions in each season with Philadelphia and his ball-hawking ability was intriguing to Houston.
Just like Ryans said, he has Super Bowl experience and that's where Houston is aiming to be. Having a player like that in the locker room to help give some wisdom to the team on how to stay locked in during a grueling season mentally is a massive advantage.
Gardner-Johnson joins a talented secondary that features Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, Calen Bullock, and Jalen Pitre. This group hopes to take this defense to another level in 2025.