Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson Immediately Rubbed INT in Baker Mayfield’s Face With Petty Move

Detroit Lions defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson wasted no time letting Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield know he had just made a play on him. 

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, as he’s more commonly known, and Mayfield traded words in the lead-up to the Lions-Buccaneers clash in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday, with the former shading the latter by saying Tampa Bay would be “great” if they had a “good QB.” The Buccaneers’ signal-caller fired back by saying he didn't think the Lions defender has "watched film." 

Well, Gardner-Johnson put his money where his mouth is early on in the Lions-Buccaneers game, as he intercepted a Mayfield pass in the first quarter, then rubbed it in the Tampa Bay QB’s face immediately after, flipping the ball back to him in a disrespectful move. 

Here's the play by Gardner-Johnson, who was in the right place at the right time. 

Tipped and picked by CJ Gardner-Johnson!

????: #TBvsDET on NBC
????: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38ClOq pic.twitter.com/YywC0LjHRm

— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024

And here's a closer look at the petty move by Gardner-Johnson, who clearly didn't forget what Mayfield had said. 

CJ Gardner-Johnson flipping Baker’s INT right back to him. The disrespect. pic.twitter.com/WTYHZWLCxH

— Danville Otterbots (@GoOtterbots) January 21, 2024

Gardner-Johnson missed much of the Lions’ stellar season after tearing a pectoral muscle in Week 2. But the Cocoa, Fla., native, who recorded six interceptions a year ago with the Philadelphia Eagles, can be a difference-maker when healthy. 

Or when he’s trash-talked.