Sauce Gardner plays as a cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. He was first drafted by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft with the fourth overall pick in the first round. He was then traded to the Colts during the 2025 NFL season, which disappointed a lot of Jets fans.
He is currently one of the best cornerbacks in the league and is expected to become even better in the future. He recently went viral after issuing a challenge to opposition teams.
Sauce Gardner challenges QBs to target him more
Gardner played for both the Jets and the Colts in the 2025 NFL season, and played in 11 games. He had 36 total tackles and 9 passes defended in those games. He previously led the league as a rookie in 2022 with 20 passes defended. The Colts traded two first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for him as well as young wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) makes his way onto the field Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, ahead of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. © Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Gardner is now preparing for his first full season with the Colts in 2026. He participated fully in the three-day minicamp and is expected to play a bigger role in the team. And the player himself wishes to be more involved in the game. During the minicamp, he gave an interview explaining his desire for more action.
He said, “As a corner, we want those accolades. We want those statistics. We want those picks, those passes broken up, all those things. I used to not think that way my first couple years in the league but I want more now. I want to make those plays on the ball, a lot more plays.”
He further added, “I want QBs to look at me and be like, ‘Yeah, let’s go at him real quick. Let’s see something.’ I hope they think they should go at me, so I can get more targets and get more ball production, change the game more.” The cornerback also revealed more information about his future goals.
Sauce Gardner states desire to go to playoffs
Gardner is already shaping up to become a leader at the Colts. The franchise is building their game plan around him, and he is expected to lead them. However, he noted that he has nothing to prove to anyone. He said, “I don’t really think I have anything to prove to nobody. I’ve got certain individual goals, certain team goals, and I just wanna reach those, but I wouldn’t say I have anything to prove.”
He did state that he wished to get more accolades and achievements, “All-Pro, Pro Bowl, all that. And I want to get to the playoffs. That’s one thing I haven’t done, and then get a chip.”
Sauce Gardner will be preparing for the 2026 NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts.
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