Chicago Bears fans probably know the name well. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is a solid defensive back who has carved out a productive career in the NFL to this point. He is also notorious for being one of the nastiest trash talkers and dirtiest players in the league. His antics led to two separate incidents where Bears players threw punches at him. He’s never been afraid to run his mouth at every opportunity, from his time in New Orleans to Philadelphia, and now the Detroit Lions. That attitude was on full display in the NFC championship game.
The start couldn’t have gone better for the Lions. they jumped out to a 14-0 lead and eventually built it to 24-7 at halftime. When they pushed the score to 20-7 after another touchdown, Gardner-Johnson was spotted on the sideline waving goodbye to the crowd. The game was over. Detroit was in total control. San Francisco had been terrible all year when forced to play from behind. Time to start thinking about the Super Bowl.
Except, as everybody knows, it’s unwise to play with the football gods. He found that out in the second half when the 49ers reeled off 27 unanswered points and stunned the Lions 34-31 to advance.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has a reputation for ugly playoff losses.
It started his rookie year in 2019 when the Saints were stunned at home by Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings in overtime. A year later, they lost at home to the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, after getting traded to Philadelphia, his vaunted defense gave up 38 points in the Super Bowl to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Now here he is, signing with another team on the rise, only to cough up a 17-point lead in the second half to once again fall short.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
One can safely assume this is everything balancing out for the style of football he plays. If he wants to play the role of the mean-spirited villain, that often comes with consequences. Divine intervention often doesn’t go your way. It is extra satisfying to watch guys like him fall flat on their faces. Maybe it will teach Chauncey Gardner-Johnson some humility. Knowing his reputation? Probably not.
