Bills Release Super Bowl Champion Safety After Suspension For Spitting Incident
The Buffalo Bills have parted ways with C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who recently won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles and was ejected from a game for spitting at an opponent.
The Buffalo Bills have announced the release of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, marking the end of his tenure with the team. Gardner-Johnson, who had recently secured a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, faced a significant setback earlier this season when he was ejected from a game against the Las Vegas Raiders for spitting at opposing player Brock Bowers 1.
Gardner-Johnson’s departure from the Bills comes after he served a one-game suspension for the spitting incident, which occurred in Week 7 of the NFL season. However, there is some discrepancy regarding the exact timing of his release, with ESPN NFL reporting it happened on Tuesday following the completion of his suspension, while CBS Sports and Fox News indicate no specific date for the release 123.
During his time with the Bills, Gardner-Johnson made notable contributions to the defense, recording 26 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception. Despite these efforts, his performance was somewhat marred by allowing a 64.7% completion rate and an 83.5 passer rating against through six games 2. Additionally, he did not participate in any special teams plays during his stint with the Bills 1.
Gardner-Johnson’s journey to the Bills began in March when he signed a one-year contract worth $6 million with the team. This move followed a successful three-season run with the New Orleans Saints, where he was originally drafted in 2019, and a brief spell with the Eagles 2. His overall career statistics include 396 tackles, seven sacks, and 21 interceptions over 93 games 3.
Head coach Joe Brady emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline on the field, stating that such incidents as the spitting cannot be tolerated 3. With Gardner-Johnson’s departure, the Bills have already taken steps to bolster their roster, signing defensive back Te'Cory Couch to fill the gap left by the safety 3.
Looking ahead, it appears that Damar Hamlin will step into the starting safety role vacated by Gardner-Johnson 2. This change could potentially reshape the Bills’ defensive strategy and impact their performance in upcoming matches.
What we know
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson was released by the Buffalo Bills. 123
- He won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. 13
- He was ejected from a game for spitting at Brock Bowers. 1
- He recorded 26 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception with the Bills. 1
- He signed a one-year contract with the Bills for $6 million in March. 2
- Damar Hamlin is likely to replace Gardner-Johnson as the starting safety. 2
- Gardner-Johnson allowed a 64.7% completion rate and an 83.5 passer rating against. 2
- Head coach Joe Brady stated that such incidents cannot happen on the football field. 3
- The Bills signed defensive back Te'Cory Couch to replace Gardner-Johnson on the roster. 3
- Gardner-Johnson has made 396 tackles, seven sacks, and 21 interceptions in 93 games. 3
- Gardner-Johnson served his suspension in Week 8. 23
- Gardner-Johnson did not play any special teams snaps during his time with the Bills. 1
- Gardner-Johnson was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2019. 2
- Gardner-Johnson played for the Saints for three seasons before being traded to the Eagles in 2022. 2
- Gardner-Johnson previously played for the Lions, Texans, Ravens, and Bears before joining the Bills. 2
What remains unclear
Trust Score report
Likely accurate — probability of truth 70%, weighted across 16 claims from 3 independent outlets.
- confirmed C.J. Gardner-Johnson was released by the Buffalo Bills. (92%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. (84%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson was ejected from a game against the Las Vegas Raiders for spitting at Brock Bowers. (71%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson recorded 26 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception during his time with the Bills. (71%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Bills for $6 million in March. (70%)
- likely Damar Hamlin is likely to replace Gardner-Johnson as the starting safety. (70%)
- likely Through six games, Gardner-Johnson allowed a 64.7% completion rate and an 83.5 passer rating against. (70%)
- likely Head coach Joe Brady stated that such incidents cannot happen on the football field. (68%)
- likely The Bills signed defensive back Te'Cory Couch to replace Gardner-Johnson on the roster. (68%)
- likely In his eight-year career, Gardner-Johnson has made 396 tackles, seven sacks, and 21 interceptions in 93 games. (68%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson served his suspension in Week 8. (67%)
- disputed The release of C.J. Gardner-Johnson occurred on Tuesday, following the completion of a one-game suspension for spitting at an opponent. (33%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson did not play any special teams snaps during his time with the Bills. (71%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2019. (70%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson played for the Saints for three seasons before being traded to the Eagles in 2022. (70%)
- likely Gardner-Johnson previously played for the Lions, Texans, Ravens, and Bears before joining the Bills. (70%)
Sources
- ESPN NFL — Bills release Gardner-Johnson after he served one-game spitting suspension
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50372292/bills-release-safety-cj-gardner-johnson - CBS Sports — Bills release C.J. Gardner-Johnson just days after being suspended for spitting incident
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bills-release-c-j-gardner-johnson-days-after-being-suspended-spitting-incident/ - Fox News — Bills release Super Bowl champion safety after serving suspension for spitting incident
https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/bills-release-super-bowl-champion-safety-after-serving-suspension-spitting-incident