Detroit Lions safety CJ Gardner-Johnson on Sunday saw his early celebration come back to haunt him following his team’s 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lions were firmly in command during the first half of the NFC Championship Game held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Detroit went up 21-7 after capitalizing on a San Francisco turnover midway through the second quarter. On 1st-and-10 at the 49ers’ 15, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs completed a 15-yard rush to score the team’s third touchdown of the first half.
.@Jahmyr_Gibbs1 is ELECTRIC. @Lions cash in on the turnover! #AllGrit
📺: #DETvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XwmpMOrRKT— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024
Gardner-Johnson celebrated the score by waving goodbye to the 49ers’ home crowd before the extra point was converted by Lions kicker Michael Badgley.
This was certainly a choice by CJ Gardner Johnson Jr.
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 29, 2024
From that point on, the 49ers took control of the contest. The Niners outscored the Lions 27-10 thereafter as their explosive offense came alive in the second half and stole a Super Bowl appearance away from the visitors.
Gardner-Johnson became the butt of several jokes on social media after the Lions ended up saying goodbye to their season.
CJ Gardner-Johnson waving goodbye as he gets ready for Cancun 😂 https://t.co/HtbJ8lAiyf
— Adam Awes (@AdamAwes10K) January 29, 2024
Cj Gardner-Johnson doing this in the second quarter just to be watching the Super Bowl from Cancun after blowing a 17 pt lead is hilarious lmao https://t.co/cbySopaKpV
— John (@iam_johnw) January 29, 2024
CJ Gardner Johnson on the sidelines right now after waving the 49ers fans goodbye earlier in the game pic.twitter.com/uL7zVYhrxd
— Cam (@camfromthe216) January 29, 2024
CJ Gardner Johnson waving goodbye to 49ers fans in the 2nd quarter is going to be replayed forEVER 😭
— Nick (@YouKnowRu) January 29, 2024
Gardner-Johnson finished the contest with four tackles. Perhaps his most memorable play was when he was stiff-armed by 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey not long before his ill-timed wave goodbye.
CJ GARDNER JOHNSON STIFF ARMED BY CMCpic.twitter.com/yYPFsveua5
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 29, 2024
The Lions were ever so close to making their first Super Bowl after decades of playoff futility. While their season has to still be deemed a success, questionable decision-making during the game from head coach Dan Campbell may haunt the team for years to come.
