C.J. Gardner-Johnson, now known as Ceedy Duce, has legally changed his name, and he has the documentation to prove it. He made the statement on Twitter with no idea of it being merely a publicity stunt. Unfortunately, Ceedy Duce will miss the rest of the 2023 season after suffering a ruptured pectoral muscle in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in September.
His absence has been felt acutely in the Lions’ defense, where he was brought in to bolster the secondary. He made an early impact with 13 combined tackles in just two games.
This isn”t the first time Ceedy Duce has changed his name. Back when he was playing college football for the Florida Gators, he went by Chauncey Gardner Jr. for his first two seasons. Then, in his junior year, he changed it to Gardner-Johnson to honor his stepfather, Brian Johnson, who played a significant role in his upbringing.
While he was with the New Orleans Saints in 2020, he also announced his name change to Ceedy Duce. At the time, he made it clear that he wanted to pave his own way and escape judgment. He wrote on Instagram, “Ceedy Duce. No more Chauncey or CJ Gardner-Johnson. Time to pave a way for my own image that I want, no more judgment or preconceived notions about me until you truly understand who I am as a person.”
CJ Gardner-Johnson or Chauncey. It’s time to clear the road for my desired image; no more passing judgment or preconceived beliefs about me until you actually realize who I am as a person.”
The Saints selected Ceedy Duce in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. After three seasons in New Orleans, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2022 season before joining the Lions in 2023. He has two pass breakups and 13 tackles in two games with the Lions this season before being placed on injured reserve in September due to a pectoral ailment.
