Photo Credit: Daniel Mears, The Detroit News.

When the Lions signed Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the 2023 off-season, I was cautiously optimistic. He was the best safety on the open market after all, but he came with his own baggage. He signed at the end of Free Agency, notably due to his long lasting relationship with Aaron Glenn. Johnson has always been known as a bit of a wild card, having had multiple on and off the field issues in his career so far. When he couldn’t get the long term deal he wanted from Philadelphia, he pivoted to taking a one year deal in Detroit.

Johnson was recently interviewed during Super Bowl Media Week by Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press, where he had some not-so-nice things to say about his time in Detroit. He likened his year in Detroit to “a year of hell.” Saying he was “lied to” stating that Detroit told him he would be brought back the following season, which obviously didn’t happen.

Johnson was signed to be a pivotal piece in the defensive backfield, but he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in a week 2 loss vs Seattle, causing him to miss most of the season. He returned in week 18, but rookie Brian Branch had essentially taken over the role that CJ was signed for. Ifeatu Melifonu was also having a solid season in his own right, making it hard for Johnson to get the amount of playing time he was used to. Most fans would say the signing ended up so-so, as CJ was injured, and didn’t play that well when he returned. Johnson himself calls it successful, noting that getting back on the field was a good feeling.

However, Johnson still says his time in Detroit was lackluster. He mentioned that when he got hurt, he did his rehab in Florida because he “didn’t see a future in Detroit” which is actually understandable. The Lions had then breakout stars Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch at safety, whom they spent high draft capital on. I can somewhat understand why Johnson didn’t love his time here. He got hurt early, and his spot was taken by a younger, better player. I also don’t think the Lions culture is something he is used to. He said “By the time mid-season came, and I was getting healthy, they wasn’t trying to extend me, I’m like, ‘I’m cool.”

Johnson also mentioned he believes the Eagles, not the Lions, have the best safety duo in the league. I really don’t expect him to say anything different.

When asked if he should’ve rehabbed in Detroit, he said, “I mean, to be respectfully, if I stayed there or left, the respect level wasn’t there. I’m one of the most winning safeties in football.” Which tells me he didn’t feel he was appreciated for his abilities. As someone who is known for his arrogance, I can see how this would be a big issue for him. The Lions culture doesn’t kiss-ass. They kick it. It sounds to me like Johnson is a little salty the Lions didn’t do more of the former.

He did have some positive things to say though, noting that Jameson Williams is the “best receiver on the team’ which sort of feels like more of a shot at St Brown than a compliment for Jameson. He also wished former Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn good luck on his new Head Coaching job in New York. When asked about his post where he said he was ‘tired of these Detroit fans’ he notes that, “All the other guys on the team was scared to go outside and kick it.” He noted that the streets were behind him and Jameson Williams.

He says that ‘everybody’ told him he’d be back in Detroit prior to the playoffs, and obviously that didn’t happen. He said, “It was just certain people at the front office that just, business is business.” After receiving interest from teams, Johnson decided to return to Philadelphia, to try and win a Super Bowl. Something they couldn’t do last time he was there, when they made it but lost in Super Bowl 57 to Kansas City.

This season, Johnson started all 16 games he was available to play, and tied his career high of 6 interceptions. Eagles defensive back Avonte Maddox says Johnson was a huge part in the Eagles improving from 31st in pass defense in ’21, to 1st in ’24. Maddox said, “He brings a lot of excitement to the game and he brings a lot of leadership in that room as well. Us just having that and him on the team is definitely a great thing.”

Johnson says he was “unfairly vilified” for how the Lions lost to San Francisco, and noted that it is likely why he was not brought back. He said, “After like one missed tackle and a blown coverage, that wasn’t on me. I guess I became the villain of the team.”

After his “nightmare” of a season in Detroit, he is ecstatic to be back in Philadelphia playing for a Super Bowl. He said, “I got benched because Iffy (Melifonwu) took my spot. He had a good run and they thought – and he didn’t end up starting this year, which was crazy. You see where they’re at, you see where I’m at.” Likely pointing at the fact Detroit lost in the Divisional round, while Philadelphia made it to the big game.

All in all, it sounds like Chauncey is upset for a few reasons. He feels he was not respected enough for his talent, he was lied to when it comes to contact negotiations, and he feels he got an unfair shake when it comes to the fans. It sounds like CJ was never fully bought in, and that hurt him in the end. I think most people had a feeling how this pairing would end when he was signed, and they were right. Johnson’s Lions career ended with some pretty bad play in the NFC Championship game. I’ll never forget when he was waving ‘goodbye’ to 49ers fans as he went into the locker room. Only to lose the 17-point lead and ultimately the game. I am somewhat surprised to hear this though, as Johnson seemed to want to stay in Detroit throughout the season. I’d assume this has more to do with the Lions not wanting him, not the other way round.

Chauncey is playing in a Super Bowl, so he has bigger things to worry about than the team he played for last year. The Lions will add this to a long list of motivational quotes.