Bears Free Agent Profile: C.J. Gardner-Johnson could turn out to be more than a one-year mercenary given a major need in Chicago

The Chicago Bears have a need at safety and consider bringing back a few different pending free agents.

Kole Noble — Chicago Bears News Writer
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Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) acknowledges the crowd against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Soldier Field.
Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) acknowledges the crowd against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

The NFL free agency window is getting closer and closer and the Chicago Bears are set to be an exciting team to watch when the madness begins. Before it gets to that point, the Bears have to first weigh the pros and cons of re-signing the players set to become free agents.

Not every player will be able to return and some are expected to be out of the Bears’ price range entirely. Others will truly be toss ups when it comes down to whether the Bears decide to bring them back and it has nothing to do with money. Such is the case with this player.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Position: DB
Age for 2026 season: 28
Incoming NFL year: 8
Previous AAV: $1,170,000
2025 snap percentage: 87% (with Bears)

C.J. Gardner-Johnson started his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints after being a fourth-round pick in 2019. He spent three years in New Orleans and started 31 games before he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. In his first season in Philly, Gardner-Johnson recorded a league-high six interceptions in route to a Super Bowl appearance.

The following year, Gardner-Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions but appeared in just three games due to a torn pectoral. According to Gardner-Johnson, things in Detroit didn’t work out the best, leading to a reunion with the Eagles in 2024. That season, Gardner-Johnson played 16 games and this time capped off the season with a Super Bowl ring despite reported issues with the coaching staff and teammates throughout the season.

Partly due to those issues, Philly sent Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans after the season where he played just three games before being released due to issues with the staff and teammates once again. After his release, the Baltimore Ravens signed him to the practice squad for a few weeks before a mutual decision determined his fit wasn’t the best. After that, the Bears took the gamble on signing Gardner-Johnson to pair him back up with his former coach in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Chicago felt the locker room was strong enough to handle such a player and the gamble paid off. Gardner-Johnson played 10 games to finish out the season and brought a physical edge to the team’s defense, although he struggled at times in coverage. He finished the year with 51 tackles, 3.0 sacks, four pass deflections, and five QB hits. Gardner-Johnson was a solid fit in Allen’s scheme and could be more than a one-year mercenary considering the team’s need at the safety position.

Contract History and Projection

Given his history and reputation, Gardner-Johnson isn’t expected to have a strong market. Philadelphia signed Gardner-Johnson to a three-year, $27 million deal back in 2024 and teams will be very hesitant to give him that kind of money again. With Chicago, Gardner-Johnson played on a one-year, $1.17 million deal. Considering he’s not getting a top-of-the-line deal, here’s what similar caliber players received on the market last offseason.

  • Jaylinn Hawkins: one-year, $1.8 million
  • Ifeatu Melifonwu: one-year, $3.01 million
  • Ashtyn Davis: one-year $2.5 million
  • Will Harris: two-year, $6 million

That puts Gardner-Johnson at a $2.5-$3 million range, which I believe is fair and his play from last season with Chicago could push his deal toward the top-end of that range. If that’s the case, and the fit is right, a team is going to get a really solid deal with him.

Prediction

Saying Gardner-Johnson hits the market and finds that kind of range for himself, it might be in his best interest to stay with Allen and Al Harris in Chicago, and it’s a decent price for the Bears to consider. With how dire the team’s need is at the safety position, it wouldn’t hurt to bring him back and continue letting him be a menace on the field. Chicago needs that kind of edge and Allen can put him in the best position to make an impact at a bargain price.

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