Sauce Gardner made an immediate impact after being selected fourth overall by the New York Jets in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors and Defensive Rookie of the Year. He backed up that breakout performance with another solid campaign in his second season.
After a disappointing 2024 season, Sauce Gardner is aiming for a bounce-back year. New Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is pushing the fourth-year corner to elevate his game and make key improvements.
Steve Wilks first met Gardner earlier this offseason and immediately challenged him to elevate his game. Whether Wilks spotted a dip in performance last year or simply aimed to motivate one of his top defenders, the message landed. The new Jets defensive coordinator made it clear—Gardner must reach an even higher level heading into Year 4.
“I know I’m not perfect, but the fact that he’s trying to get perfection out of me is what I need because, you know, I’ve had a lot of success, early success in the league,” Gardner told ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
“And the last thing I need is a new regime to come in here and just allow me to be complacent. I’m not saying that’s who I am, but it’s great to just have those type of guys that are going to demand a lot out of me and just push me in ways that I’ve never been pushed before,” the Jets star cornerback continued.
Sauce Gardner working with Steve Wilks
Wilks is working to bring out Gardner’s top form after the cornerback impressed during his first two NFL seasons. With 16 years of NFL coaching experience — including 12 focused on defensive backs — Wilks is using his expertise to sharpen Gardner’s skills and push him to perform at a higher level this season.
Thanks to his standout play and memorable nickname, Gardner secured a major endorsement deal with a national wing chain known for its wide range of sauces. Fittingly, he got his own custom flavor. By 23, he had already become one of the Jets’ most recognizable and marketable players outside the quarterback position.
Last season, the Jets finished 5-12, and Gardner’s production dropped. He ranked 47th out of 52 qualifying cornerbacks in EPA per target as the nearest defender, per Next Gen Stats (minimum 400 coverage snaps). In comparison, he ranked second out of 49 in 2022 and 13th out of 47 in 2023. He was also penalized more, with nine accepted penalties after recording seven total in his first two seasons.
Gardner enters his fourth season with the Jets, who exercised his fifth-year option in April. A strong performance this year could put him in position to command a record-setting contract for a cornerback. He has made it clear that his ultimate goal is to be recognized as the greatest cornerback of all time, a legacy he hopes to build with every snap.
