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Sauce Gardner addresses NY Jets captain controversy

Originally posted on Jets X-Factor | By Connor Long | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 11:19 AM ET

When the New York Jets’ team captain choices were announced last week, some fans on social media were surprised that Sauce Gardner was not among the six players chosen.

Despite the prestige of being voted a team captain, Gardner enters the 2025 season unfazed after not receiving the designation.

“That’s not going to affect how I approach the game, how much of a factor I play when it comes to the team, how much of a leader I am,” Gardner said when asked about fans’ reaction to him not being chosen.

“I’m not really tripping about that. That is something that I want at some point in my career, [but] corners, I feel like it’s not too common for cornerbacks to be named captain. I think Darius Slay just became a captain for the first time a year ago, when he was on Philly.”

"I'm not really tripping about that. That is something that I want at some point in my career."

Sauce Gardner was asked for his reaction to not being named one of the Jets' captains: pic.twitter.com/4yl658nOSJ
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) September 2, 2025

Linebacker Jamien Sherwood and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were selected as the Jets’ defensive captains. Offensively, the Jets have three captains: quarterback Justin Fields, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

In terms of his on-field play, Gardner continues to lead the Jets by example. Since entering the league in 2022, Gardner owns the NFL’s top coverage grade, according to PFF, and has disrupted more passes than any other defender.

WATCH: All-22 Film Review of Sauce Gardner's 2024 Season

Over that stretch, quarterbacks have managed just 0.60 yards per coverage snap against him, with only 21.4% of targets resulting in a first down or touchdown.

Gardner didn’t quite reach those same statistical heights in 2024, but his impact remains undeniable. The 25-year-old, who became the first cornerback in league history to be named a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, still finished among the best at his position.

Even in what some considered a “down year,” Gardner surrendered only 25 catches and was targeted at the sixth-lowest rate among qualified corners (once every 9.4 coverage snaps).

Captain or not, Gardner remains the cornerstone of a Jets defense built to challenge the league’s best in 2025.

This article first appeared on Jets X-Factor and was syndicated with permission.

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