The New York Jets made moves ahead of the trade deadline, including dealing Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts - and news broke during Nick Mangold's funeral
16:05 ET, 04 Nov 2025Updated 16:06 ET, 04 Nov 2025
Sauce Gardner is the only cornerback since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons
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Sauce Gardner is the only cornerback since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons(Image: Getty Images)
News of Sauce Gardner’s blockbuster trade to the Indianapolis Colts broke during the funeral of New York Jets great Nick Mangold.
On Tuesday, Indianapolis sent two picks — their 2026 and 2027 first-round selections — and receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets in exchange for cornerback Gardner. It was one of the biggest dominoes to fall on the NFL trade deadline, with news being reported at an unfortunate time from a Jets perspective.
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News of Gardner’s trade went live as more than 400 mourners turned out for Mangold’s funeral in New Jersey. The former Jets center is a franchise icon who tragically passed away due to health complications last month.
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In early October, Mangold revealed he was battling chronic kidney disease as a result of a genetic defect that was discovered in 2006. He had been undergoing dialysis and needed a transplant.
His death stunned the organization, as Mangold was a hero among fans. ESPN reporter Rich Cimini was in attendance at his funeral, noting that over 400 people attended, including Rex Ryan, Chad Pennington, Ryan Fitzpatrick, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Damien Woody, Bart Scott, Jay Feely, Calvin Pace, Nick Folk and Darrelle Revis.
Once the Gardner news broke, Cimini posted: “I was standing five feet away from Darrelle Revis outside Mangold’s funeral when the Sauce trade broke. Talk about deja vu. In 2012, Revis was traded for two first-rounders. #Jets.”
Perhaps the moment got to Cimini, as Revis was actually traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick, which would become a third-round pick. The cornerback was at the funeral to pay his respects to Mangold, as the duo had played 99 regular-season games together as Jets teammates.
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Nick Mangold spent his entire career with the Jets
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Nick Mangold spent his entire career with the Jets(Image: 2022 Getty Images)
Mangold was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and he spent the entirety of his 11-year NFL career with the franchise. The center was beloved in the locker room, boasting one of the most colorful and charismatic personalities on the roster.
Mangold received First-Team All-Pro recognition twice and was selected for seven Pro Bowls. He played his final game in 2016, before injuries brought his career to a close. In 2018, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Jets.
It still evokes a sense of déjà vu for Cimini and Jets fans. Back in July, Gardner penned a four-year extension worth $120 million that was set to tie him to the Jets through 2030.
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"New York it's been real," Gardner posted on X to sign off on his time with the AFC East franchise after landing with the team as a first-round pick in 2022. He also added a green heart emoji.
The 1-7 Jets are next in action against the 2-6 Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 9.