While Chicago Bears fans will be grateful for what defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson did for the secondary in 2025, his time has come after one season.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Buffalo Bills have signed Gardner-Johnson to a one-year, $6 million contract. Gardner-Johnson was brought in earlier in the 2025 campaign after multiple injuries to the secondary, including Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, but his transition from safety to nickel corner was huge in helping Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's defense.
Gardner-Johnson had a strong season for the Bears and played a key role in getting them into the playoffs. In 10 regular season games with the Bears, he racked up 51 tackles, five quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, four pass deflections, three sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is going to the Bills over Bears
It was always expected that Gardner-Johnson had a high chance of not coming back to Chicago as the Bears appear to be revamping the secondary. They lost Kevin Byard to the New England Patriots in free agency and have no plans of re-signing Jaquan Brisker. Adding to the fact that they lost cornerback Nahshon Wright to the New York Jets and the Bears have to rebuild the secondary.
The good news is that they have already begun that process by adding Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant as a starter. Chicago is more than likely going to do the same thing they did with Brisker in 2022 and draft a safety within the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
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Gardner-Johnson had an incredible run in Chicago and more than earned his new contract with the Bills. He will now join former Bears receiver DJ Moore in Buffalo after being traded there before the 2026 season.