Controversial Super Bowl winner cut by his team amid 'friction behind the scenes'

The Houston Texans have released veteran safety CJ Gardner-Johnson just three games into the 2025 NFL season.

Gardner-Johnson, 26, joined the Texans in March as part of a deal that sent former first-round pick Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

At the time, the trade was viewed as a major shakeup for both teams, with Houston hoping Gardner-Johnson would help stabilize a young secondary.

But after three consecutive losses to start the season, and what head coach DeMeco Ryans described earlier this week as persistent 'communication issues' in the defensive backfield, the Texans opted to move on.

'When you see a big play that happens on our defense, somewhere along the lines, there's a bust in communication,' Ryans said on Monday. 

'It all starts with communication, and it hasn't been as crisp as it needs to be.' 

While the decision was unexpected from a football standpoint - Gardner-Johnson had 15 total tackles and ranked 36th among safeties by Pro Football Focus - multiple reports suggest the Texans were increasingly frustrated by his presence off the field.

According to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson, Gardner-Johnson had been a disruptive voice behind the scenes, criticizing teammates in the secondary, questioning the size of one teammate's contract, and expressing frustration with his own role. 

He reportedly wanted to blitz more often and even requested a trade, while frequently comparing Houston's situation to the Eagles' 2023 Super Bowl-winning team, where he played a key role.

These complaints, combined with underwhelming on-field performance, ultimately led the Texans to release him less than six months after acquiring him.

Interestingly, Gardner-Johnson was voted the 'Most Annoying Player in the NFL' in a survey conducted by The Athletic last year. He received 20 percent of the votes.

Gardner-Johnson's departure is the latest in a series of early-season personnel changes for Houston, who have also moved on from Green and other starters from last year's struggling offensive line.

Despite the Texans' winless start, their defense remains one of the more promising units in the league, with young players emerging at every level. 

The team appears confident it can move forward without Gardner-Johnson and avoid further distractions in the locker room as they try to salvage their season.

Gardner-Johnson, now a free agent, will be eligible to sign with any team.