Sauce Gardner has only been around this New York Jets coaching staff for a couple of months, but they have already implemented massive changes.
Gardner spoke with the local media on Tuesday, July 22, on report day for training camp to shed some more details.
“There is a lot of things [that excite me about this new defense] like following guys, blitzing, playing in the slot sometimes – everything. They got me doing like so many cool things that I knew I was capable of doing, and to finally just get that regime and get coach [Steve] Wilks, get AG [Aaron Glenn], like coach [Dre] Bly, coach [Chris] Harris, and then I get extended like everything is unfolding for me. Everything is happening exactly the way it is supposed to. So I’m just looking forward to like it all coming alive,” Gardner explained.
What a tease!
Sauce Gardner provided #Jets fans a sneak peek into how DC Steve Wilks plans on going into his bag to bring a different level of Sauce in 2025:
‘Following guys, blitzing, playing in the slot sometimes … they got me doing like so many cool things.’ 👀
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) July 23, 2025
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The Jets Are Getting the Bang for Their Buck on the New Gardner Contract
This offseason, the Jets were proactive with their contract extensions.
Gardner, 24, still had two years left on his rookie contract. Despite that, the Jets extended him another four years, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
That led to mixed reactions on social media. Some praised the move, others criticized it, but this new information from the coaching staff certainly means the Jets are maximizing their asset.
It felt strange that the previous coaching staff would keep Gardner to only one side of the field the majority of the time. Other teams noticed the trend and started throwing it to the opposite side of the field to avoid Gardner.
When former head coach Robert Saleh was previously asked to explain why they didn’t adapt, he simply stated, “That is not our brand of football.”
#Jets HC Robert Saleh was asked why Sauce Gardner wasn’t exclusively on #Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb & if he’d be willing to change his defense to allow him to shadow an opponents top wideout moving forward, ‘we don’t play man coverage that much’ + ‘that’s not our brand of football’ +… https://t.co/2hIVQ3dnTc pic.twitter.com/puJrjSnVHy
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) September 19, 2023
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This is an adapt or die league.
Saleh was fired last year, and now a new coaching staff has taken over. They got the hint. If they’re going to make Gardner the highest-paid corner in football, they’re going to get their bang for their buck.
On top of shadowing the top receiver on the other team, Gardner revealed he could even jump into the nickel at times and blitz.
One of Gardner’s most impactful plays of his career was a surprise blitz on October 9, 2022.
“The Dolphins (3-2) lost another quarterback to injury when [Teddy] Bridgewater — starting for Tua Tagovailoa — was hit by rookie cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner on a blitz as he was about to throw on Miami’s first play from scrimmage. Bridgewater was called for intentional grounding in the end zone on the play, resulting in a safety,” the Associated Press explained via ESPN.
That was during his rookie season. Gardner is now in year No. 4. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Gardner Reveals the Special Gesture He Made for His Jets Teammate
On July 14, Garrett Wilson agreed to his record-breaking $130 million contract extension. The next day, on July 15, Gardner agreed to his monster $120.4 million deal.
However, what we didn’t know is that Gardner received his contract the same day as Wilson, but he refused to agree to or sign it.
“The Jets had sent the offer & it basically detailed it was going to make me the highest paid but then Garrett got signed & I was like I don’t want to do my deal today. I don’t want to agree to it today. I told my team we aren’t agreeing to it today, I want Garrett to have his day. Like this full day to himself just to feel good about it & to spend that time with his family. I’ll do mine tomorrow,” Gardner revealed.
Amazing!
Sauce Gardner purposefully delayed his contract extension so Garrett Wilson could have the spotlight. 🥹
Sauce revealed to the #Jets media that he delayed agreeing to his record breaking contract extension so he didn’t take any of the spotlight away from Garrett… pic.twitter.com/OB422Nd7cR
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) July 22, 2025
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