Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson said he was honest with the Eagles during a phone call before they traded him to the Texans on Tuesday.
Gardner-Johnson, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with Philadelphia last March, explained there was “no bad blood” — and he said he had one request for the Eagles on his way out.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I thought it was April Fool’s,” the 27-year-old said, as seen in a video that circulated on social media. “… I was like they damn sure got mem they playing crazy with me right now. But naw, it wasn’t no love lost. It wasn’t no bad blood.
“… It was an amazing phone call to be all the way thorough. The situation is, them young guys just gotta get paid in Philly, [defensive tackle] Jalen Carter, [safety] Reed [Blankenship] and [linebacker] Zack [Baun]… Me getting older, I understand. There was no bad blood.
“… All I asked them was like, between me and y’all, I told them, I just want to go somewhere where I can go play winning football. I didn’t ask for a specific place… I want to play winning football. I woke up the next day and and boom there it is, we in Houston.”
Gardner-Johnson won his first Super Bowl with the Birds in February when they routed the Chiefs, 40-22.
The Eagles traded him to the Texans for former first-round guard Kenyon Green, according to NFL Network.
Philadelphia also received a 2026 fifth-round pick while Houston gets Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-rounder.
Gardner-Johnson recorded six interceptions and one defensive touchdown last season for Philadelphia.
His departure came after a slew of offseason moves from the reigning Super Bowl champs.
On Monday, linebacker Josh Sweat agreed to a four-year deal worth $76.4 million with the Cardinals.
Philadelphia retained Baun on a three-year, $51 million deal last Wednesday.
The Eagles released veteran cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry.
