With high hopes, the seasoned defensive back arrived in Detroit during the offseason on a one-year contract.
He played three seasons (2019–2021) with the New Orleans Saints and one season (2022) with the Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Lions.
With just 12 regular season games under his belt, Gardner-Johnson recorded career highs in both total tackles (67) and interceptions (six). Gardner-Johnson had a stellar season with the Eagles. Additionally, he was essential to Philadelphia’s victory in Super Bowl 57.
But in the Motor City, the trash-talking 26-year-old defensive back was unable to duplicate that level of performance. He only participated in one more regular season game (Week 18) after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 2 against the Seahawks, so he never really got his 2023 season off to a start.
His ’23 campaign was later remembered more for his on-field antics than for his verbal altercations with other players and his papers to change his name to “Ceedy Duce.”
To make matters worse, he performed poorly against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, which put an end to his season. In the heartbreaking defeat, he battled valiantly against the run as well as the pass, but was unable to tackle a single player to save his life. He missed three tackles in the end, which was a game-high.
Additionally, he lost his personal conflict with San Francisco versatile wide receiver Deebo Samuel, with whom he had been at odds verbally since the beginning of the season. After Malcolm Rodriguez’s interception in the second quarter, Gardner-Johnson was called for an illegal blindside block on Samuel, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty.
