Eagles’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson Blames DC Jonathan Gannon For Super Bowl Loss
The previous defensive coordinator of the Eagles, Jonathan Gannon, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson are not friendly.
Gannon, who was appointed head coach of the Cardinals after the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, talked to the media on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He discussed wasted opportunities in last month’s humiliating 38-35 loss.
Eagles’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson Blames DC, Jonathan Gannon, For Super Bowl Loss
In the upcoming weeks, C.J. Gardner-Johnson will become a free agent, and the safety is still reeling from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII defeat. Throughout the course of the game, the Eagles let up 38 points, 24 of which came from a defence that was unable to leave the field on any of its four second-half possessions.
Gardner-Johnson calling out Jonathan Gannon just like Brian Dawkins did 🔥#Eagles pic.twitter.com/8rGjhpJiRv
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) March 1, 2023
Two days after the defeat, Jonathan Gannon, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, took the head coaching position with the Arizona Cardinals. Gardner-Johnson was poised to pounce when Gannon answered to a question at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. Gannon was eventually going to be questioned by the Philly media over the Super Bowl defeat.
A few minutes later, the tweet was removed.
“I obviously could have done a lot better job of coaching a couple of things that I wanted out of the calls so, tough to swallow when you look back at that because it’s such a big stage and we didn’t get it done.”
#Eagles Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is calling out new #Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, his former Defensive Coordinator. pic.twitter.com/jTlUZ6ZjEi
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 1, 2023
Gardner-Johnson noticed Gannon’s remarks and didn’t hold back criticism of his former coach.
“You ain’t put us in position to make plays,” the 25-year-old defender tweeted Wednesday in a message that has since been deleted.
After being acquired by the Eagles in a preseason trade from the New Orleans Saints, Gardner-Johnson had a productive season. Despite missing five games due to a lacerated kidney, he tied for the league lead with six interceptions. Despite the fact that Gardner-Johnson gave up four touchdowns, opposing quarterbacks only had a 63.8 rating on him.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson calling out Jonathan Gannon. pic.twitter.com/RN7BB7JwN0
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) March 1, 2023
Gardner-Johnson only allowed one target in the Super Bowl, resulting in one catch for 11 yards. In the postseason, opposing quarterbacks completed 80% of their throws intended for Gardner-Johnson, resulting in a 79.2 passer rating (Gardner-Johnson didn’t throw an interception or allow a touchdown).
Would Gardner-old Johnson’s coach’s tweet against him harm his prospects of staying with the Eagles in 2023 and beyond?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson calls out former #Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon 👀 pic.twitter.com/ff8PQIeTaV
— JAKIB Sports (@JAKIBSports) March 1, 2023
The Eagles held a 24-14 lead over the Chiefs at halftime before Kansas City’s superstar quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, carried the team on one leg to top Philadelphia in Arizona last month.
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