C.J. Gardner-Johnson gives Lions fans another reason to love him
The Detroit Lions fanbase is already getting a taste of the leadership newly signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson will bring to the Motor City in 2023. Gardner-Johnson established himself as one of the NFL’s rising stars at the safety position in his 2022 campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles. The often outspoken Gardner-Johnson registered six interceptions, which […]
The Detroit Lions fanbase is already getting a taste of the leadership newly signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson will bring to the Motor City in 2023.
Gardner-Johnson established himself as one of the NFL’s rising stars at the safety position in his 2022 campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles. The often outspoken Gardner-Johnson registered six interceptions, which tied the league high, in just 12 games.
While his one-year stint with the Eagles was his first experience as a full-time starter in the NFL, Gardner-Johnson is ready to help captain Detroit’s defense. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy recently released an article which articulates the kind of player Gardner-Johnson has molded in to.
At 25 years old, he’s ready to lead what will be a new and improved Lions secondary next season. Gardner-Johnson arrives in Detroit with cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley who were brought in to correct the team’s pass defense.
Part of being a leader is being able to take accountability. Gardner-Johnson says he’s ready for the job.
“Everything that goes wrong on the backend, put it on me. Don’t put it on Cam. Don’t put it on Kerb. Put it on me. I’ll take all the bullets for us on the backend.”
Interestingly enough, Gardner-Johnson learned to take accountability from the Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. When Gardner-Johnson was a high school prospect at a Nike event, it was Glenn who benched the talented safety for failing to follow his instructions.
“He was thinking I was gonna sit him out for a play,” Glenn said of the incident. “Nah, that’s not how this works. I’m not one of these high school or college coaches that’s gonna kiss your butt. If you’re not doing it the way I’m telling you to do it, then you just not gonna play.”
Gardner-Johnson has clearly come a long way from that coaching point, as the two reunited in New Orleans who drafted him in 2019. Glenn was serving as the Saints’ secondary coach during Gardner-Johnson’s first two seasons with the team.
Head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have moved mountains to turn the Lions back into a NFC North contender. Gardner-Johnson perfectly aligns with the new culture in Detroit and brings plenty of playoff experience for a player entering his fifth season in the NFL.
