Star safety CJ Gardner-Johnson was among a handful of Philadelphia Eagles who did not attend the team's Super Bowl LIX celebration at the White House on Monday.
Garner-Johnson took to Instagram Live to share his reason for skipping the visit, and regardless of whether or not it was true, it was hilarious.
"This is why I didn't go to the White House, I was getting fat," Gardner-Johnson said while eating a granola bar. "If any of them people ask, I was getting fat at the crib."
CJGJ didn't stop there.
"This is the real reason," Gardner-Johnson said. "I didn't want to go to the White House because I didn't want to have to put on that tight (expletive) suit...
"To be up there in that tight suit like [imitates wearing a suit], naw naw. I couldn't do it, bro."
Despite not wanting to celebrate the historic 40-22 win with the president, Gardner-Johnson is a key reason why the Eagles pulled it off.
He started all 16 regular-season games in 2024, recording 59 total tackles (35 solo), 12 pass deflections, 6 interceptions (tied for third in the NFL), and a 69-yard pick-six against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His strong play continued into the postseason, with 14 more tackles.
Unfortunately, the Eagles had to make a difficult business move and traded Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans for guard Kenyon Green back in March. Philly also swapped draft picks; Philly received a 2026 fifth-round pick, while Houston received a 2026 sixth-round pick.
In addition to Gardner-Johnson, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith, Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, and Darius Slay Jr. also skipped out on the White House invite for various reasons.
