Former Super Bowl Champion Signs With Bills to Fix Safety Depth Crisis
Buffalo, NY – October 15, 2025 — The Buffalo Bills have made a decisive move to stabilize their secondary, signing a former Super Bowl–winning defensive back just 18 hours after his release from the Baltimore Ravens. The deal comes as the team enters its bye week facing a dangerously thin safety room.
Buffalo’s defensive depth has been stretched to the limit. Damar Hamlin remains on Injured Reserve with a pectoral tear, and Wande Owens was waived with injury in August. That leaves only
Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop as active safeties, both battling their own durability concerns.
That’s why the Bills turned to C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a 27-year-old veteran with proven instincts, attitude, and championship experience. Gardner-Johnson, who recorded six interceptions during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, brings the exact mix of leadership and aggression that Sean McDermott’s defense needs.

Rapp, now 30, has a history of knee problems, and Bishop — just 22 — cramped late in Week 6 against the Falcons. With hybrid corner
Dorian Strong still on IR and no natural safety on the practice squad, the Bills were one injury away from disaster.
“This move is about stability,” a team source told ESPN.
“You don’t wait until the problem becomes a crisis. We need leadership in the back end, and he provides that.”
The timing couldn’t be better. The Week 7 bye gives Gardner-Johnson time to learn McDermott’s defensive calls before a critical two-game stretch against the Panthers and Dolphins — both teams known for deep vertical attacks.
Across seven NFL seasons, Gardner-Johnson has totaled 18 interceptions and 51 passes defended, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most vocal and fiery competitors. His versatility to play both safety spots makes him an instant asset.
With a 4-2 record and playoff hopes on the line, Buffalo didn’t just sign a player — they secured a tone-setter. This is more than roster insurance. It’s a message to the AFC: the Bills are reloading for another run.











