Former Super Bowl Champion Signs With Bills to Fix Safety Depth Crisis
Buffalo, NY – October 15, 2025 — The Buffalo Bills have made a decisive move to stabilize their secondary, signing a former Super Bowl–winning defensive back just 18 hours after his release from the Baltimore Ravens. The deal comes as the team enters its bye week facing a dangerously thin safety room.
Buffalo’s defensive depth has been stretched to the limit. Damar Hamlin remains on Injured Reserve with a pectoral tear, and Wande Owens was waived with injury in August. That leaves only
Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop as active safeties, both battling their own durability concerns.
That’s why the Bills turned to C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a 27-year-old veteran with proven instincts, attitude, and championship experience. Gardner-Johnson, who recorded six interceptions during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, brings the exact mix of leadership and aggression that Sean McDermott’s defense needs.
Rapp, now 30, has a history of knee problems, and Bishop — just 22 — cramped late in Week 6 against the Falcons. With hybrid corner
Dorian Strong still on IR and no natural safety on the practice squad, the Bills were one injury away from disaster.
“This move is about stability,” a team source told ESPN.
“You don’t wait until the problem becomes a crisis. We need leadership in the back end, and he provides that.”
The timing couldn’t be better. The Week 7 bye gives Gardner-Johnson time to learn McDermott’s defensive calls before a critical two-game stretch against the Panthers and Dolphins — both teams known for deep vertical attacks.
Across seven NFL seasons, Gardner-Johnson has totaled 18 interceptions and 51 passes defended, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most vocal and fiery competitors. His versatility to play both safety spots makes him an instant asset.
With a 4-2 record and playoff hopes on the line, Buffalo didn’t just sign a player — they secured a tone-setter. This is more than roster insurance. It’s a message to the AFC: the Bills are reloading for another run.
DeMarvion Overshown Gets the Last Laugh Over Teammate Kenneth Murray After Texas-Oklahoma Showdown
Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has always been known as an avid supporter of his alma mater and their football program - the Texas Longhorns.
After becoming a fan favorite during his time in Austin, Overshown has continued to show support for his former team, both on social media and at any opportunity he gets to sport Longhorns gear, talk about his former teammates and coaches, or talk trash to his current teammates about the results from a college football Saturday.
This past weekend, the Longhorns took on their arch-rival Oklahoma Sooners, giving Overshown yet another opportunity to boast about his program.
Only this time, he also has a chance to embarrass his new teammate and OU alum, Kenneth Murray.
And that's exactly what he did, forcing Murray to don Longhorns gear in the Cowboys practice facility after Texas secured the dominant 23-6 win.
Overshown, who was in attendance for the Longhorns blowout win over the Sooners, was one of the best linebacker of the century for Texas during his time in Austin 249 total tackes, 30.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 17 pass break ups, three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 39 games.
He was also named a first-team All-Big 12 performer in 2022 as a senior.
Murray, who had some overlap with Overshown during his time in Norman in 2018 and 2019, was also a tremendous linebacker for the Sooners, earning to All-Big 12 honor nods in 2018 and 2019, and winning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the year in 2017. He eventually became a first round pick after his stellar career.
Of course, Murray is not Overshown's only teammate from his rival school, either, with Tyler Guyton, Perrion Winfrey, and CeeDee Lamb also on the roster. That said, given Murray is in his same position room, it makes sense that the bet would be between the two of them.
Hopefully, now Overshown will get closer to making his return to the field after missing an extended time with a devastating knee injury. Fortunately, according to Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, it appears that could very well be the case.
“You don’t have to worry about D-Mo, he’s always gonna be engaged," Schottenheimer said last week. "D-Mo is a guy that’s going to beat most markers. … I do think the timing is getting closer.”
