NFL Player C.J. Gardner-Johnson Apologizes for Spitting Incident, Faces Past Allegation

Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson issued an apology Sunday for spitting on an opponent during a game, an incident that led to his ejection. The apology came shortly before a fellow NFL player accused Gardner-Johnson of a similar act last season.

During the second quarter of the Bills' game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Gardner-Johnson was seen spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers following a verbal exchange. The action occurred in front of an official, who immediately flagged the infraction. Gardner-Johnson was subsequently ejected from the game, leaving the field with what the Daily Mail described as a "bizarre grin."

Hours after the game, Gardner-Johnson posted a statement on his Instagram story. "I want to take a moment to address my actions and sincerely apologize to my opponent, my teammates, my organization, and everyone who supports me," he wrote. He acknowledged that his "passion and competitive nature" had led him to cross a line, calling the gesture "inappropriate, unnecessary, and not a reflection of the respect I have for him or this game."

He continued, "There is no excuse for my actions, and I take full accountability. No matter how emotional or intense the competition gets, I have to hold myself to a higher standard." Gardner-Johnson added that while "one moment does not define my character, but how I respond to that moment matters," and vowed to "learn from this, grow from it, and continue to lead with the integrity, passion, and respect that have carried me throughout my career."

Following the ejection, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk commented on social media, alleging that Gardner-Johnson had spit on him during a game last year. "This is the least surprising thing ever," Juszczyk posted, adding that Gardner-Johnson "spit on me last year when we beat Chicago."

Gardner-Johnson, 28, was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 when the alleged incident with Juszczyk occurred. He has been fined multiple times during his NFL career but has not faced a suspension. The Bills represent his sixth NFL team in eight seasons, having previously played for New Orleans, Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, and Chicago before signing a one-year contract with Buffalo.

Bills coach Joe Brady stated that the incident reflected poorly on the team. "The discipline of our football team has to improve and that sure as hell can´t happen," Brady said. "The team is bigger than that, the situation is bigger than that, everything is bigger. It can´t happen, and it definitely has to be addressed."

Brady noted that while he had not reviewed the video himself, officials had confirmed the violation was clear. "At the end of the day, if it shows up like that, like that can´t happen. It´s uncalled for. It can´t happen. It is going to be addressed, and the team is way more important."

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak commended his players for their restraint, indicating they had been forewarned about potential confrontations. "That's the expectation," Kubiak said. "We knew going in there are certain guys that are going to try to do that to us, and the players knew before the game that if they got into it, they'd be standing by me on the sideline."