The Philadelphia Eagles have traded safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson — and Swifties are rejoicing.
The 27-year-old NFL safety was traded from the Eagles to the Houston Texans, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, just over one month after Gardner-Johnson put himself in hot water with fans of Taylor Swift after winning the Super Bowl.
“The Eagles probably traded CJ Gardner-Johnson partly because of the Taylor Swift thing. Let’s not lie here,” one user wrote after the trade was announced.
Another said, “Taylor Swift somehow worked her magic to get CJ Gardner-Johnson traded out of Philly after that parade shirt.”
Gardner-Johnson — who once played alongside Jason Kelce, whose brother is Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce — caused controversy at the team’s Super Bowl parade on Friday, Feb. 14 when he wore a sweatshirt that read: “Swifties can LIX my balls.”
The crude garment came a few days after the former Eagles safety posted a photo of himself matching up against Kelce, 35, on the field to his Instagram Story on Feb. 10, one day after the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Gardner-Johnson mocked Kelce in the Story, insinuating he if he had stayed with his ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole instead of dating Swift, he and the Chiefs would have won the Super Bowl.
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Fans noted, however, that Kelce won with Swift by his side in the 2024 Super Bowl. “But he celebrated his Super Bowl win last season with Taylor Swift,” one user wrote, while another said, “Jealousy is not a great look on C.J. Gardner-Johnson.”
The Eagles traded Gardner for Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick. The Texans will also gain a a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, per NFL Network.
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