The Houston Texans bolstered their secondary in a huge way during the first week of NFL free agency. They traded draft capital and offensive guard Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a draft pick.
Gardner-Johnson is joining a Texans’ secondary that features Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, Calen Bullock, and Jalen Pitre. Lassiter and Bullock were taken in the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, Stingley was named to his first Pro Bowl and given First-Team All-Pro honors for his performance in the 2024 season. As a team, Houston was ranked sixth in passing yards per game allowed (201.0) and first in completion percentage (58.8).
The former Eagles defensive back will look to help the Texans’ defense maintain that success in 2025. With Gardner-Johnson joining Houston, he’ll have a new number when he takes the field for the first time.
Last season, Gardner-Johnson wore the No. 8 jersey with the Eagles in honor of the late great Kobe Bryant. Gardner-Johnson can’t wear that number with the Texans as wide receiver John Metchie III is No. 8.
Therefore, Gardner-Johnson posted on Twitter that he will wear No. 23 this upcoming season, which he wore at the University of Florida.
ITS BACK …… BIG 23 H-TOWN pic.twitter.com/nlvotAVmfD
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 15, 2025
The veteran safety also wore No. 23 in his first stint with the Eagles in 2022. Gardner-Johnson recorded 12 pass deflections and nine interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns in his three years at the University of Florida.
The Texans hope Gardner-Johnson can bring that playmaking ability to the free safety spot this upcoming season.
Last season with the Eagles, veteran defender produced 59 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections, six interceptions, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. The last time Gardner-Johnson had six interceptions was in 2022 when he wore the No. 23 jersey.