Sauce Gardner gives Colts jersey to young Jets fans

Jake Mozarsky

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Why Sauce Gardner gifted young Jets fans Colts jersey after viral trade reaction image

New Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner is known for his shutdown coverage, but his latest play was pure gold off the field.

Only a day after being traded from the New York Jets, Gardner reached out to a pair of young Jets fans whose enraged meltdown captured the agony of the team's faithful. Instead of offering comfort, Gardner delivered a perfectly executed troll: a freshly signed Indianapolis Colts jersey, perhaps suggesting a new team for the distraught supporters after their spectacular display of fan frustration.

Here's what Gardner did for the Jets fans less than 24 hours after joining his new team.

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Jets fans' young angst 

The surprising trade deadline move that sent Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday broke more than just hearts in the Jets' locker room -- it shattered the spirit of two young fans, whose meltdown became an instant viral symbol of New York misery.

The clip, shared by the boy's father, captured the moment the children learned their favorite player, the star All-Pro cornerback, had been dealt. The two fans initial shock quickly turned to inconsolable tears, stomping, and the raw, gut-wrenching declaration: "Now I don't like the Jets!"

The pure, unfiltered grief of losing a hero resonated with millions of frustrated NFL fans across social media.

BUY NOW: Sauce Gardner's Colts jersey (click to unlock free shipping code)

Sauce Gardner reacts

The video quickly reached Gardner himself, who initially responded with a humorous dose of hindsight, tweeting, "you should've at least waited til tmrw," with crying emojis. However, the superstar cornerback took the joke a step further, sending a signed Indianapolis Colts jersey to the devastated youngster.

While the gesture was a clear, hilarious troll, it acknowledged the young fan's pain and gave him a new reason to root for his former idol -- even if it means embracing the blue and white of the Colts. The move turned the boys' moment of despair into an unforgettable personal interaction with an NFL star, simultaneously comforting and comically ribbing the newest, and most heartbroken, member of the Colts' expanded fanbase.

Gardner gave the fans "two of [his] first Colts jerseys."

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Senior Editor