C.J. Gardner-Johnson Complete Biography in English: Date of birth, Personal Life, Careers etc.

 Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Complete biography in English: Date of birth, Personal Life, Careers etc.

 

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was born December 20, 1997, in Cocoa, Florida. He is a safety in the NFL. He played college football at Florida. Gardner-Johnson was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Prior to Florida, Gardner-Johnson played in the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando and was named to USA Today’s All-Florida first team. He led his high school team, Cocoa, to a 10-3 record and reached the 4A state semifinals in his senior year.

During his freshman year, Gardner-Johnson appeared in all 13 games and started Florida’s final three contests against FSU, Alabama and Iowa. He began the season the season as a reserve defensive back but ended Florida’s season as one its starting safeties. Gardner-Johnson led the Gators with eight special teams tackles, as he was a key member on special teams throughout the season. He totaled 32 tackles, three pass break-ups, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a half tackle-for-loss. 

His three interceptions tied with Quincy Wilson for the second most on the team. Gardner-Johnson grabbed his first-career interception at Florida State, while making his first-career start. He tallied a career-high nine tackles against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Gardner-Johnson recorded two tackles and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in the Outback Bowl against Iowa. He tallied the first multi-interception game by a Florida freshman since Nov. 13, 2004 when Kyle Jackson had two picks against South Carolina. 

He was named the Outback Bowl MVP for his standout performance as he joined two-way standout Dave Hudson (1958 Gator Bowl), Tony Lilly (1983 Gator) and Ahmad Black (2011 Outback) as the only UF defensive backs to be named a bowl MVP. Gardner-Johnson became the second true freshman in program history to win a Bowl MVP Award, joining Emmitt Smith (1987). He was named to ESPN’s, Sports Illustrated’s and the AP’s All-Bowl Team.

During his sophomore year, Gardner-Johnson played and started in all 11 games. He totaled 58 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack. Gardenr-Johnson recorded his interceptions against South Carolina (Nov. 11) and UAB (Nov. 18) in back-to-back weeks. Gardner-Johnson ranked third on the team behind Marco Wilson (10) and Duke Dawson (9) in passes defended and second on the team in tackles behind David Reese (102).

As a junior, Gardner-Johnson played in all 13 games and started 12. He totaled 71 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), two pass break-ups, nine tackles-for-loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries. His four INTs ranked tied for 16th in the country and tied for second in the SEC. After he snagged a pair of interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan, Gardner-Johnson was named Defensive MVP. 

Also, for his efforts he garnered AP All-Bowl Team honors. Gardner-Johnson notched his other interception returned for a touchdown on the first play of Florida’s contest against Idaho. He was a member of a group that helped UF lead the nation in fourth quarter opponent passing efficiency (66.25) and rank second nationally in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage (40.5).

Gardner-Johnson ended his collegiate career with 37 games played, nine interceptions, three INT returns for touchdowns, 12 pass breakups, 161 total tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks. He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

On August 30th, 2022, Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles by the New Orleans Saints after extension talks broke down. He started the first 11 games before suffering a lacerated kidney in Week 12. He was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2022, leading the league in interceptions. He was activated from injured reserve on January 7, 2023.

Personal Life

Gardner-Johnson was known as Chauncey Gardner Jr. in his first two seasons with Florida. For his junior year, he changed the name on his jersey to Gardner-Johnson in honor of his stepfather, Brian Johnson. Gardner-Johnson's biological father, Chauncey Gardner Sr., has been a part of his life, but Johnson had raised Gardner-Johnson from the time he was a toddler.

College Career

As a true freshman at Florida, Gardner-Johnson appeared in all 14 games, making starts in the final 7 games of the season. During the 2017 Outback Bowl, Gardner-Johnson had 2 tackles and 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He was named the MVP of the Outback Bowl. During his sophomore season, Gardner-Johnson started in all 11 games. Before his junior season, Gardner-Johnson was moved to the nickelback position. On November 26, 2018, Gardner-Johnson announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Professional Career

New Orleans Saints

2019

Gardner-Johnson was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. In a Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving Day, Gardner-Johnson recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Matt Ryan in the 26–18 win. In Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, Gardner-Johnson recorded 8 tackles and forced a fumble on wide receiver Kalif Raymond which he recovered during the 38–28 win.

2020

On October 11, 2020, Gardner-Johnson was punched by teammate Michael Thomas during practice. This led to Thomas being benched for that week's game. On November 1, 2020, in a 26–23 victory over the Chicago Bears, Gardner-Johnson was sucker-punched by Bears' wide receiver Javon Wims which led to a scuffle between both teams in the third quarter. Wims ran up to an unsuspecting Gardner-Johnson, who had his back turned and punched him in the helmet. When Gardner-Johnson did not react, Wims punched him again. Earlier broadcast showed Gardner-Johnson ripping off Wims' mouthguard away from Wims. Despite Wims claiming Gardner-Johnson spit on him, no evidence supported this claim. Gardner-Johnson later denied that he spit on Wims. The incident led to Wims being ejected from the game and suspended for two games by the NFL the next day. Gardner-Johnson was also fined $5,128 for his actions with Wims.

In Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, Gardner-Johnson recorded his first career sack on quarterback Nick Mullens during the 27–13 win. In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, Gardner-Johnson intercepted a pass thrown by wide receiver Kendall Hinton during the 31–3 win. Gardner-Johnson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Saints on December 30, 2020, and activated on January 8, 2021.

On January 10, 2021, in the NFC Wildcard game against the Chicago Bears, Gardner-Johnson was involved in a scuffle with another Bears receiver, Anthony Miller. Miller was ejected for the fight while they both received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

2021

Gardner-Johnson entered 2021 as a starting safety. He started seven games before being placed on injured reserve on November 13. He was activated on December 11. In a game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 19, 2021, Gardner-Johnson intercepted Tom Brady's pass intended for Scotty Miller late in the game to close out the 9–0 shutout victory.

Philadelphia Eagles

2022

On August 30, 2022, the Saints traded Gardner-Johnson along with a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fifth-round pick and the lower of their two sixth-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. He started the first 11 games before suffering a lacerated kidney in Week 12. He was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2022, leading the league in interceptions. He was activated from injured reserve on January 7, 2023. Gardner-Johnson helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII. In the Super Bowl, Gardner-Johnson recorded 4 tackles in the Eagles 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.