Since DeMeco Ryans took over as head coach, the Houston Texans’ defense has emerged as one of the best in the NFL. In 2024, it ranked seventh in PFSN’s Defensive+ metric, highlighted by a dominant pass rush led by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
This offseason, the Texans were one of the most active teams on the market, making major changes to their offensive line and adding key pieces on defense, including a trade for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, who’s expected to bring energy and toughness to the secondary.
DeMeco Ryans Has Confidence in What C.J. Gardner-Johnson Brings
During the NFL annual meeting, Ryans was asked about what Gardner-Johnson brings to the Texans’ roster.
“He instantly improves our back end, not only from his play, but him pairing with Calen [Bullock], and Calen’s game is definitely going to improve just seeing how CJ plays and how he prepares. You can feel the passion, the love for football that CJ has, my first conversation with him he got me fired up talking to him. So he’s going to fit right in as a sworn player for us and I’m excited to get to work with him,” Ryans said.
Last season, Gardner-Johnson started 16 games and recorded six interceptions, including a pick-six, along with one forced fumble and 59 total tackles. He was a key piece in the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, anchoring one of the NFL’s top secondaries in 2024.
One question raised by the media (and some fans) is why the safety hasn’t landed a major long-term contract with any team. After spending three years with the Saints, Gardner-Johnson had two stints with the Eagles (in 2022 and 2024), along with a brief, injury-plagued stop with the Detroit Lions in 2023.
Following the Super Bowl, many were surprised by the trade that sent Gardner-Johnson to Houston in exchange for Kenyon Green after a very productive season. Ryans was asked about the topic and whether it concerns him in any way.
“For me, it’s always a clean slate. Every guy that comes into our building is always a clean slate. I don’t know all the ins and outs of what happens at every spot, like why multiple teams, but to me, it really doesn’t matter. Treat everyone the same, respect, open arms. When they come into our building, it’s a fresh start, it’s our first time together and that’s why I love it here.”
In 2024, Gardner-Johnson signed a three-year, $27 million deal with Philadelphia. With Houston, however, he’ll essentially be playing on a one-year deal. In 2026, the Texans will have the option to either pick up the final year of his contract or release him with no dead cap penalty.