C. J. Gardner-Johnson

Chauncey "C.J." Gardner-Johnson ( Gardner Jr.; born December 20, 1997) is an American football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).

On December 31, 2017, he announced he changed his last name to Gardner-Johnson in honor of his stepfather, Brian Johnson.

Gardner-Johnson's biological father, Chauncey Gardner Sr., has been a part of his life, but Johnson had raised Gardner-Johnson from the time he was a toddler.

During the 2017 Outback Bowl, Gardner-Johnson had two tackles and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown against Iowa.

He was named the MVP of the Outback Bowl.

During his sophomore season, Gardner-Johnson started in all 11 games.

Before his junior season, Gardner-Johnson was moved to the nickelback position.

On November 26, 2018, Gardner-Johnson announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.

He played college football at Florida and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gardner-Johnson was known as Chauncey Gardner Jr. prior to his junior year at Florida.

Gardner-Johnson was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.

In a Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving Day, Gardner-Johnson recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Matt Ryan in the 26–18 win.

In Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, Gardner-Johnson recorded eight tackles and forced a fumble on wide receiver Kalif Raymond which he recovered during the 38–28 win.

In the 2019 season, Gardner-Johnson finished with 42 total tackles, one interception, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble.

He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

In both 2020 and 2023, Gardner-Johnson posted his intention to legally change his name to Ceedy Duce on Instagram.

Despite this, he has yet to formally change his name to Ceedy Duce.

In 2020, he stated "Officially changing my name to Ceedy Duce. No more Chauncey or C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Time to pave a way for my own imagine [sic] that I want no more judgement, thoughts on me, because you really don't know me, until you understand me as a person I won't speak unless spoken to."

In 2023, he said "Court doucments [sic] otw (on the way). It's a different person. I got an alter ego. I got like two different people living in me, football and life. Life, I’m just chilling. Football, that’s a whole different person. People call me Ceedy on the football field or Ducey. In life, they call me C.J. or Chauncey".

As a true freshman at Florida, Gardner-Johnson appeared in all 14 games, making starts in the final seven games of the season.

On October 11, 2020, Gardner-Johnson was punched by teammate Michael Thomas during practice.

This led to Thomas being benched for that week's game.

On November 1, 2020, in a 26–23 victory over the Chicago Bears, Gardner-Johnson was sucker-punched by Bears' wide receiver Javon Wims which led to a scuffle between both teams in the third quarter.

Wims ran up to an unsuspecting Gardner-Johnson, who had his back turned and punched him in the helmet.

When Gardner-Johnson did not react, Wims punched him again.

Earlier broadcast showed Gardner-Johnson ripping off Wims' mouthguard away from Wims.

Despite Wims claiming Gardner-Johnson spit on him, no evidence supported this claim.

Gardner-Johnson later denied that he spit on Wims.

The incident led to Wims being ejected from the game and suspended for two games by the NFL the next day.

Gardner-Johnson was also fined $5,128 for his actions with Wims.

In Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, Gardner-Johnson recorded his first career sack on quarterback Nick Mullens during the 27–13 win.

In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, Gardner-Johnson intercepted a pass thrown by wide receiver Kendall Hinton during the 31–3 win.

Gardner-Johnson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Saints on December 30, 2020, and activated on January 8, 2021.

In the 2020 season, Gardner-Johnson finished with one sack, 66 total tackles, one interception, and 13 passes defended.

On January 10, 2021, in the NFC Wild Card Round against the Chicago Bears, Gardner-Johnson was involved in a scuffle with another Bears receiver, Anthony Miller.

Miller was ejected for the fight while they both received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Gardner-Johnson entered 2021 as a starting safety.

He started seven games before being placed on injured reserve on November 13.

He was activated on December 11.