NFL offseasons usually involve boring training camp clips or contract disputes that drag on forever. But the summer of 2025 took a sharp left turn into pure chaos. It started with a viral video and ended with fans wondering if a Pro Bowl safety actually tried to put a "hit" on one of the league's brightest young stars.
The drama involving CJ Gardner-Johnson and Malik Nabers isn't your typical gridiron beef. Most football rivalries are born in the trenches or through a spicy post-game quote. This one? It was born on Instagram Live.
The Accusation That Set the Internet on Fire
In early July 2025, IG model Summer Bunni, who is the mother of Gardner-Johnson's children, went on a scorched-earth rant. She didn't just stop at infidelity allegations. She claimed that Gardner-Johnson—the man known to many as "Ceedy Duce"—allegedly hired someone to target New York Giants wideout Malik Nabers during a game.
"He cheated and he hired a hit on Malik Nabers," she said in the viral clip.
Specifically, she mentioned a "boy Z" who was supposedly tasked with "getting" Nabers. For a few hours, social media was convinced we were looking at Bountygate 2.0. People were scouring 2024 game film looking for illegal hits. The phrasing was vague enough to be terrifying. Was this a physical threat off the field, or an instruction to "take him out" during a divisional matchup between the Eagles and Giants?
The Truth Behind the "Hit" Rumors
Honestly, the reality was way less cinematic than the rumors suggested. CJ Gardner-Johnson didn't take long to hop on his own stream to clear his name. He looked more confused than anything else.
"This is false news, bro," Gardner-Johnson told his followers. "We don't even know each other. We ain't even had no issues on the field."
He clarified that "Z-Dog" isn't some enforcer or hired gun. He's a music producer.
Basically, the whole thing seemed to be a messy byproduct of a personal breakup rather than a professional conspiracy. Gardner-Johnson even went as far as reaching out to former teammate Jameis Winston to get in touch with Nabers. He wanted to make sure the kid knew there was no real malice behind the noise.
Examining the On-Field Connection
If you look at the stats, there wasn't even much of a reason for a rivalry. Malik Nabers had a monstrous rookie year in 2024. He hauled in 109 receptions for over 1,200 yards. He was the only consistent threat in a struggling Giants offense.
Gardner-Johnson, meanwhile, was doing his usual thing. He’s a high-energy, high-volume trash talker who gets under everyone's skin. But when you look at the Eagles vs. Giants tape from that season, there wasn't a single "dirty" hit or even a major skirmish between the two.
- Nabers was busy becoming a centerpiece in New York.
- Gardner-Johnson was playing the "villain" role in Philly before his eventual move to the Houston Texans in the 2025 offseason.
- The Intersection: They shared the same field twice, but most of their interaction was just standard competitive play.
Why This Story Stuck
Why did everyone believe it for a second? It’s because of CJGJ’s reputation. Let's be real. He’s the guy who got punched by Javon Wims. He’s the guy who got into it with Michael Thomas. He leans into the chaos. When you're the league's premier instigator, people are willing to believe the wildest stories about you.
Nabers, on the other hand, stayed remarkably quiet through the whole ordeal. He didn't subtweet. He didn't like shady comments. He just kept working. That maturity is probably why he’s already being compared to guys like Justin Jefferson.
What This Means for the Future
As of late 2025, the "beef" is effectively dead. The NFL didn't find enough evidence to launch a formal investigation because, frankly, there was no evidence to find. It was a domestic dispute that spilled into the public eye using the name of a famous athlete as leverage.
Gardner-Johnson is now in Houston, trying to bring that veteran edge to a young Texans secondary. Nabers is the face of the Giants' rebuild. They aren't even in the same conference anymore, so the chances of them crossing paths on the field in 2026 are slim unless they meet in the Super Bowl.
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Actionable Insights for Fans Following This Saga
If you're still tracking the fallout of the CJ Gardner-Johnson and Malik Nabers situation, keep these points in mind to separate fact from social media fiction:
- Verify the Source: Always look at whether an accusation is coming from a disgruntled personal contact or a reputable league insider like Adam Schefter.
- Check the Film: In the modern NFL, every "hit" is filmed from ten different angles. If a "bounty" actually existed, the tape would show a pattern of targeting that simply wasn't there.
- Monitor the Texans-Giants Schedule: Since Gardner-Johnson moved to the AFC, these two won't see each other often. Any remaining "beef" will likely stay on social media rather than the grass.
- Ignore the "Z-Dog" Narrative: It's been confirmed by multiple sources that the individual mentioned in the original rant is a member of Gardner-Johnson's music circle, not a threat to player safety.
The lesson here is simple. NFL drama is fun, but sometimes a viral clip is just a viral clip. CJ Gardner-Johnson is a lot of things—a ball hawk, a legendary trash talker, and a Super Bowl champ—but a "hitman" isn't one of them.