The Super Bowl champion safety explained his absence from the White House celebration in a candid livestream, joining several Philadelphia Eagles stars who also skipped the event.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson's second stint with the Philadelphia Eagles ended in a championship—and, apparently, a few pounds gained. Though traded to the Houston Texans in March, the standout safety earned his Super Bowl LIX ring thanks to a strong postseason showing that included 14 tackles during the Eagles' dominant playoff run and 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles capped their championship celebration with a White House visit on Monday, but Gardner-Johnson was notably absent. A day later, the always-outspoken defensive back took to social media to explain his reason for skipping the trip to Washington.
“This is why I didn’t go to the White House, I was getting fat,” Gardner-Johnson said during a livestream while snacking on what appeared to be a granola bar. He followed up with a more colorful take: “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 [gestures uncomfortably], naw naw. I couldn’t do it, bro.”
Gardner-Johnson wasn't the only Eagle to skip the ceremony with President Donald Trump. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and former cornerback Darius Slay were among the several high-profile players who opted not to attend the optional event.
One Eagle who made headlines for attending? Running back Saquon Barkley. Not only did Barkley visit the White House, he also played golf with Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and flew to Washington on Marine One. After his appearance generated buzz, Barkley addressed the reaction on social media: “Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day.”
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie reiterated in March that the White House visit was not mandatory. “Our culture is that these are optional things,” Lurie said at the NFL owners meeting. “If you want to enjoy this, come along and we’ll have a great time. And if you don’t, it is totally an optional thing.”
Gardner-Johnson, who returned to the Eagles in 2024 after a brief stint in Detroit, was traded to the Texans in exchange for offensive guard Kenyon Green and a swap of late-round draft picks. His absence from the celebration doesn't change his impact on the field—he played a critical role in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl defense and brought his trademark swagger back to the locker room.
Even from afar, Gardner-Johnson continues to provide entertainment—and reminders that championship memories don’t always require formalwear.
