Sauce Gardner’s past 48 hours must have been the most chaotic stretch of his professional life.
The cornerback did not expect to be traded but recently acknowledged his appreciation for landing with the Indianapolis Colts at this stage of the season.
Just before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the New York Jets sent Gardner to Indianapolis in a deal that moved a two-time All-Pro and former fourth overall pick from the 2022 draft out of New York.
Gardner spoke publicly about the trade for the first time on Thursday.
He admitted the trade caught him by surprise but said he still celebrated it. Joining a contender felt like a reward after enduring a tough season with one of the league’s worst teams.
“I didn’t even have time to process it all the way,” Gardner said Thursday when he was asked if he was surprised by the move. “I just knew I was coming into a great situation. So, like, I was running in circles in the house.”
Oh Boy: Sauce Gardner was running around his house CELEBRATING after he heard the Jets traded him.
"I was running in circles in the house."
😬😬😬pic.twitter.com/sATb7lSsZI
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 6, 2025
The moment Gardner received word of the trade, his first thought centered on reuniting with former Cincinnati teammate Alec Pierce.
His second realization carried even more weight.
The Colts entered the week with a 7-2 record while the Jets sat at 1-7.
That contrast in team direction became immediately clear to Gardner as he prepared for the transition.
Gardner said he did not allow himself to dwell on the circumstances or feel blindsided by the decision.
He understood the business side of the move and chose to focus on what he could contribute to a winning environment.
The cornerback has since committed himself to learning Indianapolis’ defensive system faster than he thought possible.
Gardner acknowledged the Jets likely viewed the Colts’ offer as too valuable to decline, given recent struggles in New York.
He also recognized that no one would sympathize with a player moving from a losing situation to a playoff contender.
The opportunity to compete for a championship outweighed any initial shock from the trade.
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