Sauce Gardner, the star cornerback for the New York Jets, was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. However, surprising as it may seem, Gardner never had the desire to play for his hometown team, the Detroit Lions. In a recent interview on “The Pivot Podcast,” Gardner explained that one of the reasons behind his preference was the potential impact on his career if he played in his home state.
According to Gardner, his closest friends and family don’t even ask him for anything, especially those who weren’t around during his difficult times when he, his mother, his brother, and his sister were struggling. He believes that if he had been drafted by the Lions, he would have faced a different situation wherein many people would have approached him for tickets, money, or simply to hang out. Gardner appreciates his current position and the fact that he doesn’t have to deal with these variables.
Gardner was the fourth overall pick by the Jets, while the Lions selected defensive end Aidan Hutchinson as the second overall pick. Even though there were speculations about the Lions considering Gardner with their pick, Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated that they never seriously considered him. Campbell mentioned that they thought about various players, but it never went in that direction for general manager Brad Holmes and himself.
Gardner expressed relief that he didn’t end up in Detroit, as it would have brought a whole new set of challenges with people constantly asking for favors. He is content with his position in New York and the Jets organization.
In his rookie season, Gardner has already made significant achievements, winning the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He is the first rookie cornerback to receive first-team honors since Ronnie Lott accomplished this feat with the San Francisco 49ers in 1981. Not only that, but Gardner also maintained a remarkable record of not allowing a single touchdown throughout the entire season, which reflects his outstanding performance in college as well.
It’s clear that Sauce Gardner’s decision to not play for the Lions has paid off for him, both professionally and personally. He is thriving with the Jets and has already made a name for himself in the NFL.
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