C.J. Gardner-Johnson Escalates Feud with Swifties During Eagles Game

NEW ORLEANS — C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive back, intensified his feud with Taylor Swift‘s fanbase during a recent game by donning a controversial hoodie that read, “Swifties can LIX my balls.” This latest incident has drawn significant attention following Gardner-Johnson’s social media post after the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025.

The 24-year-old Gardner-Johnson initiated the clash when he shared a photo on Instagram showcasing him and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Swift’s boyfriend, side by side, following the Eagles’ 40-22 victory. He captioned the image, stating that Kelce “should’ve stayed with that thick s—t,” further igniting tensions among the Swifties, the devoted fans of the pop superstar.

During the Eagles’ recent match against the Chiefs, Swift and her mother, Andrea Swift, were in attendance. Kelce had a lackluster performance, recording merely four receptions for 39 yards. In contrast, Gardner-Johnson contributed with three total tackles, including one solo tackle.

The fan backlash escalated as members of the Swifties began targeting Gardner-Johnson’s mother, Delatron Johnson, by posting negative reviews on her restaurant, Kings Grill, located in Rockledge, Florida. According to Yelp, “This business is being monitored by Yelp’s Support team for content related to media reports.” However, Delatron defended her son when speaking with TMZ, noting that the family was unfazed by the criticism.

“I have friends who were sending me the screenshots,” she said. “They were going, ‘Oh my god, look at this!’ And the first thing everyone said was, ‘the Swifties have attacked.’” Delatron expressed that the negative reviews were irrelevant to them as they were in the process of selling the restaurant.

Regarding her son’s infamous trash-talking, she remarked, “We’ve been dealing with this since he was a kid. He talks the talk ’cause he can back it up. The same thing with his mother, I talk the talk because I can back it up.”

Meanwhile, Darian Kinnard, a 25-year-old offensive tackle for the Eagles, is also making headlines as he prepares for his first Super Bowl with Philadelphia. A former player for the Chiefs, Kinnard possesses two Super Bowl rings earned over his time in Kansas City. He acknowledged the unique position he holds, stating, “I guess I can say I’m kind of spoiled when it comes to that.”

Kinnard noted he understands nuances in the Chiefs’ defensive strategy thanks to his prior experience, remarking, “Some of the insight I got is going against the ‘D’ line and understanding that two training camps with [Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve] Spagnuolo definitely helped.”

As the February showdown approaches, Kinnard’s perspective may offer a competitive edge for the Eagles as they aim for victory against the team with whom he has shared significant time in his early career.