The New York Jets traded cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday in a move that caught much of the league off guard.
Gardner became the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history earlier this offseason, making the decision to deal him ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline all the more surprising.
The Jets entered the week at 1-7 and were expected to sell assets, but few anticipated Gardner would be among them.
Shortly after the trade became official, Gardner addressed his departure from New York with a brief message on his X account.
“New York it’s been real,” Gardner posted on X.
New York it's been real💚
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) November 4, 2025
Gardner spent three and a half seasons with the Jets after being selected in the first round of the 2022 draft.
The 25-year-old earned All-Pro honors in each of his first two years and established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in football.
His 2025 season started slowly, but he now joins a Colts team sitting at 7-2 atop the AFC standings.
Indianapolis desperately needed secondary reinforcements after struggling to contain opposing passing attacks through the first half of the season.
Their Week 9 performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers exposed significant vulnerabilities in coverage that required immediate attention.
Gardner provides an experienced solution to that problem.
For the Jets, the trade marks another setback in what has become a difficult year.
They lost D.J. Reed in free agency during the offseason, leaving them without the dominant cornerback tandem that once anchored their defense.
With their offense still struggling to find consistency, the path forward remains unclear.
Gardner transitions from a rebuilding situation to a legitimate contender.
The Colts are tied with the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos for the best record in the AFC and view him as a critical addition to their championship pursuit.
NEXT: Another Jets Star Is Pushing For A Trade