New York Jets Cornerback Sauce Gardner is widely-known as one of the NFL’s most influential figures. From the time he became the highest-selected draft pick in the University of Cincinnati's history when he was taken with the 4th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Sauce has been a household name in football circles.
Through three seasons, Sauce has already established himself as one of the NFL’s premier Defensive Backs, earning the 2022 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and 2 First Team-All Pro Team Selections.
Now, going into his fourth NFL season, Gardner sat down to discuss how his upbringing motivates him, what he wants his legacy to look like, and why he’s decided to wear the Q-Collar to help protect his brain for life on, and off, the field.
What motivates you as a person and as a football player?
“I feel like growing up in Detroit drives me when it comes to everything. That's the only motivation I need. Growing up in a single mother household, you’re raised tough, and that just drives me to want to be the best. That also drives me to want to be an example for the next generation to show them that anything is possible.”
What do you think separates you from your opponents on the field?
“When I get on that field, I know I'm the best player on the field. My preparation throughout the week, all the unseen hours and the non-required work, that separates me from the man that's next to me.”
What does your gameday routine look like? What are you thinking about before you take the field?
“My game day routine really starts the night before watching film, where I'm sitting there just breaking down routes and tendencies and just studying my opponent. When I wake up, I start listening to my music, getting in that mode. Once I pop my Q-Collar on, I flip that switch and it’s gametime.”
How did you first learn about the Q-Collar, and what made you interested in giving it a try?
“My teammate (Braelon Allen) brought up the Q-Collar to me. I had a couple of teammates that wore it as well. So, I started to do my own research on it and the studies made sense. They backed up the product for sure.”
What made you decide that the Q-Collar was the right choice for you?
“When I first learned about the Q-Collar, you know, aside from all of the safety aspects that it brings, I like how it's lightweight. So it's not really affecting my game in a negative way. I also like how it looks, it’s pretty cool.”
Why is wearing the Q-Collar important to you?
“Man, the Q-Collar is so important to me. I play a physical sport, so I want to do whatever it takes to protect my brain health, and I feel like the Q-Collar puts me in a perfect position to do that. I’ve got to live a life far after football, and I feel like the Q-Collar sets me up for my future.”
Do other players come up and ask you about the Q-Collar? If so, what do you tell them?
“I have a lot of guys that come up and ask me about the Q-Collar, even coaches. One of my coaches said he's probably going to start wearing one. I'm not sure why he told me that, but I love just being able to talk about the studies and the research that I have gathered when it comes to the Q-Collar. And it makes perfect sense. I feel like a lot of guys on my team are going to be wearing it this year.”
What would you tell other athletes about the Q-Collar if they were unsure about trying it?
“If there are athletes out there that are hesitant about trying the Q-Collar, I would tell them to just trust the product and trust the studies. It's not just word of mouth, you can do your research on it, you can see how it can impact you in a positive way.”
What is the mental side of football like for you and how does the Q-Collar play into it?
“I like to say that football is 95% mental, and 5% your God-given talent. When I'm out there on that field, as long as I prepared the right way, I know my mental is gonna be good in that sense. And when I put the Q-Collar on, I feel protected because I know it's gonna be a lot of collisions and impacts out there.”
What does life after football look like for you and how does the Q-Collar factor into that?
“Initially, I didn't think about life after football as much. It was just so caught in the moment. I still don’t really think about it much, but when the Q-Collar was first introduced to me, it made me think about my longevity and the purpose that it serves in my day-to-day life when I'm practicing or playing. I want to continue to be an example for the next generation, on and off the field, during and after my football career.”
What advice would you give your younger self or to other young football players?
“Some advice that I would give to a younger version of myself, and even other younger athletes out there is to stay focused and don't get distracted. If you want to achieve something, it's possible as long as you put your mind to it. Another piece of advice I’d give to younger players is to do what you can to keep your brain healthy, you need it. If you don't got your brain, you know, you can't be yourself. You want to try to get that protective edge as much as you can, and I feel like wearing a Q-Collar serves that purpose.”
What kind of legacy as a football player do you want to be remembered having?
“To fulfill my legacy that I want to leave on a game, obviously, you've got to play. You've got to be able to be out there on the field. I've got to be available. I've got to be able to show up year in and year out. In order to fulfill the legacy that I want to leave on a game, I have to be available day in and day out, weekend, week out, year in and year out. So I have to be able to show up each and every year. I have to be healthy each and every year. I have to continue to prepare each and every week. So that way, when I go out there on game day, I can dominate.”
Check out Sauce and more of our athletes on our YouTube Channel.
