Sauce Gardner Responds to Young Fan's Heartbreak Over Shocking Trade to Colts
Trade Shakes Up NFL Dynamics
In a surprising move on Tuesday, cornerback Sauce Gardner was traded from the New York Jets to the Indianapolis Colts, prompting a heartfelt response from the player to a young fan devastated by the news. Following the shock of the trade, which saw the Jets sending Gardner to Indianapolis in exchange for multiple draft picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, a viral video captured the emotional reaction of a child expressing his dismay over Gardner’s departure.
Reacting to the video of the young fan crying and stomping his feet, Gardner humorously remarked that the child's father “should've at least waited until tomorrow” to break the news. This trade has become the centerpiece of a chaotic trade deadline, with the Jets embarking on a significant roster overhaul, having previously extended Gardner’s contract just four months ago.
A Dramatic Shift for Gardner
Gardner, who was signed to a hefty four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July, finds himself on a new team less than four months later as the Jets struggle with a disappointing 1-7 season. In addition to Gardner, the Jets have also traded three-time Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys as part of a larger fire sale. The trade specifically brought back a bounty for Gardner, including a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and second-year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
The 25-year-old Gardner, a standout since being drafted fourth overall by the Jets in 2022, is recognized for his achievements, including being a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro in his first two seasons and winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. While Gardner’s performance last season saw a dip, he remains a valuable asset on the field, tallying 20 tackles and six passes defended so far this season.
Now heading to a Colts team that is tied for the best record in the AFC at 7-2, Gardner has an opportunity to shift his career trajectory from struggling with the Jets to potentially making a significant impact in a playoff race with Indianapolis.
