After a one-year absence, the Philadelphia Eagles have made another major splash in free agency by bringing back a fan favorite and well-known player.
The Eagles are re-signing defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to a three-year, $33 million contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After spending a year in Philadelphia, he played for the Detroit Lions the previous season.
Veteran DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is returning to the #Eagles on a three-year deal worth up to $33 million, per his agents Kevin Conner and Robert Brown at @UniSportsMgmt.
Gardner-Johnson just turned 26. Now back with the team he helped reach a Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/1o0Y5t8HZC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2024
Gardner-Johnson posted the following on his X/Twitter account to confirm that he was, in fact, returning to the Eagles:
Flying home 🦅
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 12, 2024
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and All-Pro center Jason Kelce were also lost by the Eagles to retirement. Running back D’Andre Swift (who signed with the Chicago Bears) went undrafted, and All-Pro safety Kevin Byard was cut in order to save cap space.
In the 2022 season, Gardner-Johnson, 26, made a big contribution to the Eagles’ run to Super Bowl 57. Gardner-Johnson, who was acquired via trade with the New Orleans Saints prior to the regular season, recorded eight pass defenses, one sack, and a league-high six interceptions.
A torn pectoral muscle that he sustained back in Week 2 kept Gardner-Johnson out of all but three games during his one and only season with the Lions. In those games, he recorded three pass defenses and one interception.