Sauce Gardner Says He Wants to Stay with Jets ‘For the Rest of’ His NFL Career
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVMay 2, 2024
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Sauce Gardner is already a star, but it is clear he wants to become a New York Jets legend.
The cornerback took to social media Thursday and revealed he wants to remain with the only NFL team he has ever known for the rest of his career:
SAUCE GARDNER @iamSauceGardnerI wanna be a New York Jet for the rest of my career.
New York selected Gardner with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft, and he wasted no time establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro selection in that first season behind a league-best 20 passes defended.
It wasn’t just his play on the field that stood out, though.
He quickly became one of the faces of the franchise and even made headlines during the offseason after his first year by campaigning for his team to trade for future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers with an eye on a Super Bowl run.
New York ended up doing just that, although the 2023 season was largely derailed by the Achilles injury Rodgers suffered in the first game.
Gardner was still a bright spot last season as a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro who finished with 57 tackles, 11 passes defended and one forced fumble. Opponents often avoided throwing to his side of the field altogether, but he still found ways to impact the game.
NFL @NFLSAUCE PICKS IT OFF 🔥
📺: #BUFvsNYJ on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pSFLuCQneJ pic.twitter.com/ZiKwDby0o1
The University of Cincinnati product is under contract through the 2025 season with a fifth-year option available for 2026, so the Jets don’t have to worry about him becoming a free agent anytime soon.
Still, it is surely welcome news for the front office and the fans that one of the team’s top players wants to stay put for the rest of his career.
If he continues playing at the level he did in his first two years, that will end up being a Hall of Fame career.
