C.J. Gardner-Johnson is going back to college.
Well, he’s just going back to his college number.
The newly acquired Houston Texans safety announced Saturday morning that he’d be switching from No. 8 over to No. 23, the same jersey number from his time at Florida, for the 2025 season. Gardner-Johnson could have offered some type of gift to wide receiver John Methcie III for the jersey rights, but he’d rather commit to portraying the “Joker” mentality down at NRG Stadium this upcoming fall.
Previously worn by Eric Murray, the Texans‘ new No. 23 will take over that role after being acquired in trade earlier this week from Philadelphia in exchange for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Houston will also get back a 2026 sixth-round pick, but it has Gardner-Johnson locked up on a deal through 2026.
ITS BACK …… BIG 23 H-TOWN pic.twitter.com/nlvotAVmfD
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 15, 2025
Known for his hard-hitting plays in space and ball-hawking skills in man coverage, Gardner-Johnson joins a Houston secondary as the final piece to a unit that ranked sixth in passing yards allowed (201) and 13th in scoring defense (21.9). His 18 career interceptions fit right in with Texans’ S.W.A.R.M. mentality of defense after they totaled 19 picks as a unit, including from both rookie Calen Blullock and All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr.
So far, Gardner-Johnson is the only player to unveil his new number, but it would be wise to assume that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk will remain wearing No. 13 after linebacker Del’Shawn Phillps left in free agency.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson among safeties in 2024:
🔒 86.8 coverage grade (5th)
🔒 6 interceptions (3rd)
🔒 7 forced incompletions (T-3rd) https://t.co/0j9izJG3wgpic.twitter.com/XNMycGllW9— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) March 11, 2025
Finally, Texans fans will actually see the 7-13 connection in the works from C.J. Stroud to Kirk. And if that doesn’t excite them, seeing Gardner-Johnson’s No. 23 live up to the G.O.A.T. status on defense is just the icing on the cake.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: C.J. Gardner-Johnson reveal new jersey number following Texans trade
