C.J. Gardner-Johnson is out of a job.
Just one day after serving a one-game suspension for spitting in the direction of the Raiders’ Brock Bowers last month, the Bills released Gardner-Johnson, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia.
Gardner-Johnson, 28, played six games for the Bills this season after signing a one-year, $6 million deal with the team over the offseason.
The safety had 26 tackles and an interception across his six appearances with Buffalo.
After the incident, Gardner-Johnson apologized to Bowers, his teammates and both organizations.
“There is no excuse for my actions, and I take full accountability,” Gardner-Johnson wrote, adding that spitting on Bowers was “inappropriate” and “unnecessary.”
His release comes after a turbulent 2025 season, during which he spent time with three different clubs.
After just three games, Gardner-Johnson was released by the Texans following “friction behind the scenes” and reported frustration from the player over his role and “wanting to blitz more.”
He would then join the Ravens but never appear in a game for the team before heading to Chicago and playing 10 games for the Bears.
The incident with Bowers was far from the only on-field spat Gardner-Johnson has been involved in throughout his career.
In 2024, he was ejected from a game against the Commanders after receiving two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, then flipped off Washington fans as he left the field.
In 2020, as a member of the Saints, Gardner-Johnson was accused of spitting on Bears receiver Javon Wims, who punched him twice during an altercation.
He also made headlines following the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in February 2025 for posting a crude social media message about Travis Kelce and his ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole.
