Sauce Gardner finally explains what really went down in stunning Jets trade

November 4, 2025 will forever stand as one of the most shocking days in New York Jets history. Within the span of a few hours, the franchise stunned the NFL by trading away two foundational stars, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, in a pair of moves that transformed the organization overnight.

While the Williams trade had been rumored for weeks, the decision to move Gardner came completely out of nowhere and sent shockwaves through the NFL. The Jets had signed Gardner to a record-setting four-year, $120.4 million extension less than four months earlier.

If the move blindsided Jets fans, it was likely even more jarring for Gardner himself. The former All-Pro cornerback admitted he had no indication the Jets were considering the trade and learned about it only moments before it was finalized.

Gardner recently opened up about that experience in an interview with Richie Mollura of Roundtable Sports, detailing how he found out about the trade and the emotions that followed.

"I just got a call from [Aaron Glenn], and he just had told me, like you know, it's a team that we think is a great situation for you, that's offering something that's also hard to pass on. I was like, 'What's the team?' And he told me what the team was, and I was like, 'Alright, let's do it.'"

Sauce Gardner

Sauce Gardner opens up about the blockbuster Jets trade that sent him to the Colts

The Jets dealt Gardner to Indianapolis just before last year’s trade deadline in exchange for two first-round picks. At the time, the Colts viewed him as the final addition to a roster they believed was capable of competing for a Super Bowl.

The trade made sense for the Colts at the time. Indianapolis had started the season 7-1 and looked like one of the best teams in the NFL. Daniel Jones was the favorite for Comeback Player of the Year, and Indianapolis seemed like an early Super Bowl favorite.

Unfortunately, just about everything that could have gone wrong did for the Colts following the Gardner trade. Indianapolis lost eight of its final nine games, Jones suffered a torn Achilles, and Gardner missed considerable time due to a calf injury.

In total, Gardner appeared in just four games with the Colts last season, winning only his debut. Overall, teams Gardner was on went a disastrous 2–15 in 2025, a mark that would have been the worst in the NFL. Notably, Gardner was not even part of one of those two wins, as he was sidelined for the Jets’ 39–38 victory over the Bengals due to injury.

The Jets now own the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and also hold the Colts’ first-round selection in 2027. Given how things have unfolded since the deal, it is safe to say the Jets are feeling good about the return they received.

As for Gardner, he's simply that 2026 brings a lot more wins than what he's endured throughout his NFL career to this point.