The Detroit Lions are one of 30 teams that are eliminated and will be watching Super Bowl 59 against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

With one game left on the slate for the season, many teams and players have shifted their attention over to the offseason, but Eagles safety C.J. Gardner Johnson spoke about his time with the Detroit Lions.

When speaking with the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett down in New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson revealed his tenure with the Lions wasn’t pleasant. He even went as far as saying that Detroit lied to him.

Lions News: C.J. Gardner-Johnson Calls Out the Lions

In March 2023, Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Lions. He ended up tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 2 and missed most of the season. Gardner-Johnson returned in January for the playoffs.

He saw his role get diminished, with Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brian Branch getting more reps. Prior to the even happening, tensions were brewing.

“Truthfully, like in Detroit it was hell. I went there just to — OK, when I got hurt I was like, ‘(Expletive) it.’ Truthfully. That’s why I didn’t go rehab there.”

– C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Gardner-Johnson continued to take some shots at the Lions, saying, “I got benched because Iffy took my spot. He had a good run and they thought — and he didn’t end up starting this year, which was crazy. You see where they’re at, you see where I’m at.”

While that bothered the 27-year-old, the biggest problem for him was that the Lions lied to him. He was under the assumption Detroit would re-sign him but that didn’t happen. And he thinks his performance in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers played a big factor in that decision.

Gardner-Johnson stated, “I got lied to, so it was, whatever. I got told, respectfully, I was going to get brought back and didn’t get brought back. And offseason went real for me, signing back here because I wasn’t really tripping on it. It all worked out. I really felt like it was more so towards after the game they felt some way. After like one missed tackle and a blown coverage that wasn’t on me. I guess I became the villain of the team.”

In that loss to the 49ers, the Florida product finished with a 33.9 overall grade and a 45 coverage grade per PFF. He also gave up 28 yards in coverage.

His tenure with the Lions wasn’t a productive one, and he made it clear how happy he is to be with the Eagles. Especially since they are suiting up on Super Bowl Sunday.