Why Eagles can’t sign former Super Bowl champ after release from Texans

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is looking for a new home.

However, pursuant to NFL Rules, that new home will not be his old one.

The defensive back was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Houston Texans ahead of the 2025 NFL season, in exchange for guard Kenyon Green as well as a late-round 2026 pick swap. But after just three games in Houston, Gardner-Johnson has been released.

According to reporting from Texans beat writer Aaron Wilson, the release came after “friction” developed behind the scenes. As Wilson posted on social media, the defensive back was “complaining about his role” and “wanting to blitz more.”

The release, coming as the Texans sit at 0-3 in the AFC South, has many speculating about where his next NFL destination will be. But do not expect that destination to be his old team, the Eagles. As pointed out by SB Nation’s own Brandon Lee. Gowton, pursuant to NFL Rules, a player who was traded cannot return to the team that traded them unless they have played a minimum of four games with the team that acquired them via the underlying trade:

Under this section of the rules, two seasons must pass until Philadelphia can bring Gardner-Johnson back into the fold.

Interestingly enough, the last time this obscure portion of the NFL Rulebook came into play also involved the Eagles.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, the Eagles traded pass rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets. But with Reddick seeking an improved contract from his new team, a standoff with the Jets lasted into the start of the season.

That had league media reaching for this section of the rulebook last season, to quash any ideas of Reddick returning to the Eagles.

The more you know.