The Houston Texans made some major changes this offseason in hopes of taking the critical leap from merely being a division winner to a legitimate contender in the AFC. Standout quarterback C.J. Stroud ranks among the most exciting young players in the league, while Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. helm a stellar defense.
Former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was let go following a disappointing campaign, though some of the more intriguing moves came on the defensive side of the ball as well.
New safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who has developed a reputation as one of the NFL's most hated trash talkers, is already off to a fiery start. In fact, one recent report from training camp illustrates just how much he's annoying his new team, albeit in a good way.
Today the Texans defense is dominating the Texans offense.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) July 30, 2025
After CB Tremon Smith broke up a pass from Davis Mills down the field.
C. J. Gardner-Johnson shouted “We on they A$$.” And said it’s “belt to A$$” while swinging an imaginary belt while pointing to a Texans camera.
New Texans S C.J. Gardner-Johnson Already Trolling Offense at Camp
As noted by ESPN Texans insider DJ Bien-Aime, the Texans' defense dominated the offense during Wednesday's practice. After cornerback Tremon Smith broke up a pass from backup quarterback Davis Mills, Gardner-Johnson let his counterparts hear it.
He shouted "we on they a--" and said it's "belt to a--" while swinging an imaginary belt and pointing to a Texans camera. Houston needs this kind of fire on defense, and Gardner-Johnson's antics should elevate a unit that already ranked fourth in opponent yards per play (5.1).
Gardner-Johnson established himself with the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he won a Super Bowl last year while starting 16 games. He ranked 22nd out of 171 qualified safeties at Pro Football Focus, earning a three-year, $27 million contract for his efforts.
With two seasons of six interceptions under his belt, the 27-year-old former fourth-round pick represents a great addition to this defense. Alongside Caden Bullock and Stingley, Gardner-Johnson should help form one of the league's better secondaries.
Against the ferocious offenses in the AFC, that means something significant. The Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills are the class of the conference, but most agree that Houston is in that second tier, clawing for a Super Bowl appearance. Given the promising youth on the roster, a few key adjustments could mean all the difference.
Gardner-Johnson represents one of those adjustments. After all, he just helped beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. These antics might annoy the offense, yet they'll make the entire team better in the end.