Imago
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Nov 30, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner 1 attempts to walk off the field on his own following an injury during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Indiana USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollarsx 20251130_tcs_usa_030
Imago
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Nov 30, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner 1 attempts to walk off the field on his own following an injury during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Indiana USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollarsx 20251130_tcs_usa_030
Imago
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Nov 30, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner 1 attempts to walk off the field on his own following an injury during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Indiana USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollarsx 20251130_tcs_usa_030
Imago
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Nov 30, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner 1 attempts to walk off the field on his own following an injury during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Indiana USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollarsx 20251130_tcs_usa_030
Essentials Inside The Story
- Sauce Gardner is stepping into a new chapter after a surprise midseason move.
- His early stretch with the Colts didn’t go as planned due to timing and setbacks.
- Off the field, Gardner is making changes that signal a fresh start.
The trade to the Indianapolis Colts was the business decision, but Sauce Gardner is now making it personal by officially closing the book on his New York chapter with a $3 million real estate move. He originally purchased the property in August 2023 for $1.37 million when it was nothing more than a foundation, eventually turning it into a high-end luxury estate.
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A recent Instagram post from Top Closings revealed, “NFL star cornerback @saucegardner just sold his custom-built NJ mansion for $3m with his agents @kevmarquez40 & @armenesellsnj. The sale follows “Sauce” Gardner’s trade to the Indianapolis Colts in November 2025. Gardner recently signed a 4-year, $120.4m contract extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.”
The custom-built mansion was a project he oversaw from the foundation up after purchasing the lot for $1.37 million in 2023. According to the real estate page Top Closings, the luxury estate features a gourmet kitchen, a movie theater, a golf simulator, an ice plunge, a sauna, and an infinity pool.
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The blockbuster trade that sent Gardner to Indy, finalized on November 4, 2025, in exchange for wide receiver AD Mitchell and two future first-round draft picks. This move came just months after Gardner signed a record-breaking four-year extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Though he initially called the deal “only the beginning” of his journey in New York, the sudden trade has brought his chapter with the Jets to a permanent close.
With Gardner no longer anchoring their secondary, the Jets must now find a top-tier outside cornerback this offseason. On the other hand, Gardner himself is leaning into his new life with the Colts. Selling the New Jersey mansion is the final step in closing Gardner’s New York chapter, but his new beginning in Indianapolis has been far from the dream he and the team envisioned.
Gardner’s move to the Indianapolis Colts
When the Colts traded for star cornerback Sauce Gardner, they thought they were making the move that would guarantee a championship run. At 7-2, they were tied for the best record in the league and gave up a massive haul, including two future first-round picks and receiver Adonai Mitchell, to get him. Gardner, who had been struggling through a losing season with the New York Jets, was just as excited for the fresh start.
“I’m looking forward to this year and my future as a Colt,” Gardner told reporters during his first news conference on Nov. 6.
Unfortunately, the high expectations quickly turned into a nightmare. Almost immediately after the trade, the Colts’ season fell apart. The team lost its final seven games, a collapse fueled by a season-ending injury to quarterback Daniel Jones. Gardner himself couldn’t catch a break; a stubborn calf injury kept him off the field for most of the stretch. He ended up playing only about a third of the defensive snaps, leaving fans and critics wondering if the team had overpaid for a player who couldn’t help them when it mattered most.
Despite the rough start, the Colts’ leadership isn’t hitting the panic button. They view Gardner as a long-term cornerstone rather than a quick fix. Coach Shane Steichen remains one of his biggest supporters, focusing on the talent Gardner showed whenever he was healthy enough to play.
“He’s incredible,” Steichen said. “He’s a hell of a player. He’s sticky in coverage. He’s an elite corner that can win one-on-one matchups… [I’m] really looking forward to his future in this organization.”
The front office also feels secure due to the structure of Gardner’s contract. Even though they gave up a lot to get him, they have him under team control for five more seasons with a very manageable salary cap hit for the next two years.
If things don’t work out down the road, the team can move on without a major financial penalty. For Indianapolis, the trade wasn’t just about winning in 2025; it was about securing an elite talent for the next half-decade.