On November 4, 2025, the New York Jets surprised the football world by trading two of their cornerstone players, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, in moves that reshaped the franchise instantly. While the Quinnen Williams trade was anticipated by many, the decision to trade Gardner caught fans and analysts completely off guard, especially since he had recently signed a record-breaking four-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the team.
Gardner, an All-Pro cornerback, disclosed that he was unaware of the Jets’ plans to trade him and only learned about the deal moments before it was made official. This revelation sheds light on the sudden and unsettling nature of the trade for the player himself.
Sauce Gardner Discusses His Reaction to the Trade to Indianapolis
Gardner shared his experience in a recent interview with Richie Mollura from Roundtable Sports, revealing how he was informed of the trade over a phone call with Aaron Glenn. Gardner recounted,
“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
The trade sent Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts just before the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for two first-round draft picks, marking a pivotal moment for both franchises.
Initial Promise Turns Into Struggles for Gardner and the Colts
At the time of the trade, the Colts had a strong 7-1 start and were considered serious contenders for the Super Bowl, with quarterback Daniel Jones emerging as a top candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year award. Indiana viewed acquiring Gardner as a key piece to solidify their roster and championship aspirations.
However, the remainder of the season unfolded disastrously. The Colts lost eight of their final nine games, Jones suffered a torn Achilles, and Gardner was sidelined for much of the season due to a calf injury. Gardner appeared in only four games for Indianapolis during the 2025 campaign, winning just his debut.
Collectively, the teams Gardner played for in 2025 ended the year with a dismal 2–15 record, the worst in the league. Interestingly, Gardner did not participate in one of those rare wins: the Jets’ narrow 39–38 victory over the Bengals, as he was recovering from injury at that time.
Jets Secure Valuable Draft Picks as They Look Ahead
Following the trades, the Jets hold the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, along with the Colts’ first-round choice in 2027. Given how the season unfolded, the Jets appear to have gained favorable compensation for parting ways with two of their stars.
Meanwhile, Gardner remains focused on moving past the challenges of his early NFL career, anticipating a stronger and more successful 2026 season with hopes of contributing to more victories than he has experienced so far.
Sauce Gardner walks us through the process of him getting traded from the Jets to the Colts
And also has a message to the Jets fans that were supporting him during his time in New York #JetUp pic.twitter.com/Sm0PX33UKP
— 𝙅𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼🛫 (@NYJets_Media) February 5, 2026
