Ahmad Gardner who is a Muslim by religion, widely recognized by his nickname “Sauce,” is a 24-year-old cornerback for the New York Jets. Hailing from Detroit, he signed a four-year contract with the Jets in 2022, reportedly worth over $33 million. After taxes, he is believed to have received around $17 million. His jersey bears the number 1, and interestingly, Ice Spice—who is Grammy-nominated—is also known to follow football closely.
When he was a young player, the story behind his nickname Sauce goes that Harris told coach Gardner, “To be the man, you have to inherit this sauce.”
Gardner then got the nickname A1, until one day his coach called him, “A1 Sauce Sweet Feet Gardner.”
He loved the nickname and it stuck and Sauce then shortened it to what it is today.
He had previously said does not always channel the “Sauce” way of life, but on the field he makes sure he’s got the sauce. “My personal meaning is a level of confidence. When I’m on and off the field, I make sure I’ve got the sauce. That just keeps me going. When I’m in my little calm mood, it’s just me being Ahmad. The Sauce is within me, so I’m always Sauce. I have to know when to flip the switch up and turn the switch off.”
In the Instagram post that reignited dating speculation, Gardner appeared alongside Ice Spice near a luxury vehicle. He captioned the post with the Lady Liberty emoji and also shared it on his Instagram Story. Ice Spice responded with a brief “1” in the comments section.
Born on August 31, 2000, in Detroit, Gardner played college football at the University of Cincinnati before joining the NFL. During his high school years at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, he contributed to his team both as a cornerback and a wide receiver. According to USA Today, his youth football coach gave him the nickname “A1 Sauce Sweet Feet Gardner” when he was just six years old.
Gardner’s mother, Alisa Gardner, has been mentioned in several profiles, while his brother, Allante, reportedly serves as Vice President at Vayner Sports, the agency that represents him. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Gardner fourth overall. Multiple sources confirmed that he signed a contract worth $33.45 million, including a signing bonus exceeding $21.5 million.
know all details about Sauce Gardener:
- Date of Birth: August 31, 2000 (Age 24)
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
- Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
- Mother: Alisa Gardener
- Brother: Allante Gardener
- Girlfriend: Ice Spice
- High School: Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, Detroit
- College: University of Cincinnati (2019–2021)
- Position: Cornerback
- NFL Draft: Selected in the 1st round, 4th overall pick in 2022
- NFL Team: New York Jets (2022–present)