Sauce Gardner Explained

Sauce Gardner
Current Team:New York Jets
Number:1
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:31 August 2000
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:190
High School:Martin Luther King Jr. (Detroit)
College:Cincinnati (2019–2021)
Draftyear:2022
Draftround:1
Draftpick:4
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Statleague:NFL
Statweek:8
Statseason:2024
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:157
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:1.0
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:1
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statlabel5:Pass deflections
Statvalue5:34
Statlabel6:Interceptions
Statvalue6:2
Statlabel7:Touchdowns
Pfr:GardSa00

Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (born August 31, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was selected fourth overall by the Jets in the 2022 NFL draft. Gardner was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie cornerback since Ronnie Lott in 1981 to be named first-team All-Pro.

Early life

Gardner was born on August 31, 2000, in Detroit, Michigan.[1] He attended Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, where he played wide receiver and cornerback on their football team.[2] In the Division 2 State Championship, Gardner caught four passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. After the season, Gardner was named an All-State selection at cornerback by the Associated Press. A three-star recruit, he committed to play college football at the University of Cincinnati.[3]

College career

In 2019, his true freshman season, Gardner played in 11 games. He had 31 tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also tallied 11 passes defended and eight pass breakups. After the season, Gardner was the only true freshman named to the American Athletic Conference first-team.[4] [5] As a sophomore in 2020, Gardner began the season atop the depth chart as a starter.[6] As a junior, Gardner was voted to the 2021 College Football All-America Team and named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year en route to helping Cincinnati become the first Group of Five team to reach the College Football Playoff.[7] [8] [9] He declared for the 2022 NFL draft following the season.[10]

College statistics

SeasonGPTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
Solo Ast Cmb TfL Sck Int Yds Avg TD PD FR FF TD
201911 24 7 31 0 0 3 78 26 2 6 0 0 0
20209 16 12 28 0.5 0.5 3 18 6 0 6 0 0 0
202113 28 12 40 5 3 3 7 2.3 0 4 0 0 0
Career 33 68 31 99 5.5 3.5 9 103 11.4 2 16 0 0 0

Professional career

thumb|right|225px|Gardner (right) in his rookie season with the Jets.Gardner was selected fourth overall by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft.[11] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $38.7 million fully guaranteed, on May 7, 2022.[12]

Gardner made his first career interception in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins.[13] In Week 7, he had 10 tackles and three pass breakups against the Denver Broncos, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[14] He started in all 17 games as a rookie. He finished with 75 total tackles (51 solo), two interceptions, and 20 passes defensed.[15] His 20 passes defended led the league.[16] Gardner was selected for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, joining Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks as the only rookies selected.[17] He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and was also named a first-team All-Pro, becoming the first rookie cornerback to achieve the honor since Ronnie Lott in 1981.[18] [19] He was ranked 23rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[20]

In the 2023 season, Gardner made 16 appearances and starts. He finished with 57 total tackles (41 solo), 11 passes defended, and one forced fumble.[21] He earned Pro Bowl and first team All-Pro honors for the 2023 season.[22] [23] Gardner was the 3rd defensive player and only cornerback in NFL history to receive first-team All-Pro honors in each of their first two seasons in the League.[24]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high
YearTeamGames Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
NYJ17 17 75 51 24 3 1 0.0 - 20 2 19 9.5 16 0 0 0 0 - 0
NYJ16 16 57 41 16 2 0 0.0 - 11 0 0 - 0 0 1 0 0 - 0
Career 33 33 132 92 40 5 1 0.0 - 31 2 19 9.5 16 0 1 0 0 - 0

Personal life

Gardner is a Christian.[25]

Gardner took the nickname "Sauce", from a youth football coach at age six because he had barbecue sauce all over his face while eating some ribs.[26] [27] In 2022, he partnered with the sports bar chain Buffalo Wild Wings to endorse a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce known as "Sauce Sauce".[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brugler . Dane . The Beast: 2022 NFL Draft Guide . subscription . November 15, 2022 . . 228–229 . April 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220408160955/https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/04/07001122/2022_TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide.pdf . live .
  2. Web site: McCabe . Mick . Dunlap . Keith . December 14, 2018 . Meet the 2018 Free Press' All-Detroit high school football team . . November 22, 2020 . September 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921004730/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/12/14/meet-free-press-all-detroit-high-school-football-team/2294794002/ . live .
  3. Web site: Ahmad Gardner, New York Jets, Cornerback . October 27, 2022 . 247Sports . en-US . December 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219034456/https://247sports.com/Player/Ahmad-Gardner-46041620/ . live .
  4. Web site: Neuffer . Phil . March 4, 2020 . Cincinnati Bearcats Football Season in Review: Ahmad Gardner . November 22, 2020 . Down the Drive . May 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528214927/https://www.downthedrive.com/2020/3/4/21163676/cincinnati-bearcats-2019-football-season-in-review-ahmad-gardner . live .
  5. Web site: Lusk . Logan . March 4, 2020 . Q&A — Football sophomore Ahmad Gardner . November 22, 2020 . . March 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308190238/https://www.newsrecord.org/sports/q-a-football-sophomore-ahmad-gardner/article_fdd20358-0e92-11eb-8485-5f6a556155bd.html . live .
  6. Web site: Goricki . David . September 1, 2020 . At Cincinnati, Detroit King's Ahmad Gardner takes his place among nation's top cornerbacks . November 22, 2020 . . September 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921050814/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2020/09/01/cincinnati-detroit-kings-ahmad-gardner-takes-his-place-among-nations-top-cornerbacks/5686544002/ . live .
  7. Web site: Consensus All-America Teams (2020-2022) . February 19, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . March 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304203602/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/all-america-2020-2029.html . live .
  8. Web site: AAC Defensive Player of the Year Winners . February 19, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . February 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230219181534/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/american-dpoy.html . live .
  9. Web site: Zagoria . Adam . December 5, 2021 . Cincinnati Becomes First 'Group Of Five' Team To Make College Football Playoff And Will Face No. 1 Alabama . February 19, 2023 . Forbes . en . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516091643/https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2021/12/05/cincinnati-breaks-glass-ceiling-becomes-first-group-of-five-team-to-make-college-football-playoff-and-will-face-no-1-alabama/ . live .
  10. Web site: Jeyarajah . Shehan . January 4, 2022 . 2022 NFL Draft: Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner declares after dominant career with Bearcats program . April 29, 2022 . CBS Sports . September 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922144806/https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2022-nfl-draft-cincinnati-cb-ahmad-gardner-declares-after-dominant-career-with-bearcats-program/ . live .
  11. Web site: Bell . Jack . April 29, 2022 . Jets Select CB Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner with No. 4 Pick of 2022 NFL Draft . April 29, 2022 . NewYorkJets.com . May 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529185520/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/ahmad-sauce-gardner-nfl-draft-cornerback-cincinnati . live .
  12. Web site: Lange . Randy . May 7, 2022 . Sauce Gardner, Jets' Top Draft Pick, Signs His Rookie Contract . May 8, 2022 . NewYorkJets.com . June 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606125050/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/sauce-gardner-jets-top-draft-pick-signs-his-rookie-contract . live .
  13. Web site: Clark . Dave . October 9, 2022 . Big half for former UC Bearcats star Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner includes first NFL INT, safety . February 19, 2023 . The Enquirer . en-US . October 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221009183950/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/10/09/ahmad-sauce-gardner-gets-first-nfl-interception-safety-for-new-york-jets-against-miami-dolphins/69550546007/ . live .
  14. Web site: Gordon . Grant . October 26, 2022 . Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Giants QB Daniel Jones among Players of the Week . February 19, 2023 . NFL.com . October 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221026123339/https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2022-week-7-joe-burrow-daniel-jones . live .
  15. Web site: Sauce Gardner 2022 Game Log . February 19, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . July 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230716235604/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GardSa00/gamelog/2022 . live .
  16. Web site: 2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards . February 19, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . January 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230122203803/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2022/leaders.htm . live .
  17. Web site: December 22, 2022 . Pro Bowl selections for all 32 teams: Full AFC, NFC rosters . January 1, 2023 . ESPN.com . en . March 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325010815/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35293921/2023-nfl-pro-bowl-afc-nfc-rosters-players-teams-watch . live .
  18. Web site: Alper . Josh . February 10, 2023 . 2022 NFL defensive rookie of the year: Sauce Gardner . February 19, 2023 . ProFootballTalk . en-US . February 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230219181323/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/02/09/2022-nfl-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-sauce-gardner/ . live .
  19. Web site: Maaddi . Rob . January 13, 2023 . NFL All-Pros: Kelce, Jefferson unanimous; 16 first-timers . January 13, 2023 . APNews.com . Associated Press . April 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406214017/https://apnews.com/article/nfl-all-pro-kelce-mahomes-sauce-jefferson-ap-efe23feab2088737a01ae04eb2a1e9ce . live .
  20. Web site: 2023 NFL Top 100 . 2024-07-06 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  21. Web site: Sauce Gardner 2023 Game Log . 2024-07-06 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  22. Web site: 2023 NFL Pro Bowlers . 2024-07-06 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  23. Web site: 2023 NFL All-Pros . 2024-07-06 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  24. Web site: 2024-09-19 . Will Sauce Gardner's quest to be the best CB be overshadowed by lack of interceptions? . 2024-10-21 . ESPN.com . en.
  25. Web site: Sauce Gardner: Follower of Christ, Child of God . 10 October 2023 . November 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231107110153/https://faithonthefieldshow.com/sauce-gardner-follower-of-christ-child-of-god/ . live .
  26. Web site: Vasquez . Andy . April 28, 2022 . Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner: 3 things to know about NY Jets' No. 1 pick in 2022 NFL Draft . April 28, 2022 . North Jersey . September 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922060756/https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nfl/jets/2022/04/28/sauce-gardner-ny-jets-nfl-draft-2022-pick-bio-college/7442644001/ . live .
  27. Web site: Thamel . Pete . Pete Thamel . November 18, 2021 . Here's how Bearcats star Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner got that nickname and why his skills have caught NFL eyes . February 21, 2022 . . March 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308190238/https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-how-bearcats-star-ahmad-sauce-gardner-got-that-nickname-and-why-his-nfl-caliber-skills-live-up-to-it-195531825.html . live .
  28. Web site: Riccette . Billy . August 29, 2022 . Sauce Gardner to create 'Sauce sauce' with Buffalo Wild Wings . August 29, 2022 . Jets Wire . . May 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529113510/https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/29/sauce-gardner-to-create-sauce-sauce-with-buffalo-wild-wings/ . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sauce Gardner".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.