Sauce Gardner is no longer with the New York Jets after being dealt to the Indianapolis Colts in a shocking blockbuster. While this trade has sparked a wave of reactions across the NFL landscape, one kid’s viral freakout over this news caught the star cornerback’s eye.
How did Sauce Gardner React to Viral Social Media Post?
Sauce Gardner is one of the most decorated cornerbacks of this generation, who endeared himself to millions of New York Jets fans. The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft made an immediate impact in the Big Apple, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year that season.
Gardner went on to make two straight First-Team All-Pro and was considered a shutdown corner on one of the best defenses in the league. A few years later, the Detroit native was rewarded with a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension this past offseason, making him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.
Unfortunately, the New York Jets’ woes as a team have continued, particularly on defense this year, and the front office has decided to bolster its draft capital at the trade deadline. The casualties have been the team’s two leaders, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, who have been dealt to the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys.
you should’ve at least waited til tmrw😭😭 https://t.co/yHYoRTe83j
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) November 5, 2025
In Gardner’s case, the Jets are getting back two first-round picks and Colts’ second-year wideout Adonai Mitchell. It’s a significant haul, especially for a player who has experienced a dip in form over the past two seasons.
Nonetheless, plenty of Jets fans were heartbroken over this trade, including a young fan whose reaction went viral. And Gardner had a fitting response to the X post that caused an uproar.
What’s next for Sauce Gardner?
The two-time Pro Bowler now joins a team built to win now. The Indianapolis Colts currently have the No. 1 seed in the AFC and hold a one-and-a-half game lead in their division. Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor are presently spearheading the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, which is the only unit averaging more than 30 points per game.
In PFSN Offense Impact Metrics, the Colts scored a staggering 94.7 points, securing the top spot.
Defensively, the Colts are seventh in scoring; however, this unit has been prone to explosive passing attacks. In a conference that has the likes of Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and a now healthy Lamar Jackson, Shane Steichen’s team has to shore up the secondary to make a deep playoff run.
It’s certainly a gamble for the Colts to give up this kind of draft compensation for the 25-year-old cornerback, but Gardner is an incredible talent at the position. In addition, as this young boy’s reaction shows, the former Jets’ star had an impact on the fans that extended beyond the football field.