Sauce Gardner returned from Berlin for his second bye week of the 2025 season, and one which came at an opportune time.
The All-Pro cornerback had, less than a week prior, been dealt from the New York Jets to the Colts in a blockbuster trade; he didn't have much time to switch from preparing to face the Cleveland Browns to learning a new scheme, a new group of teammates and a new opponent – the Atlanta Falcons – before making his Colts debut in Germany.
So last week, as Gardner got his stuff from New York and figured out where to live in the Indianapolis area, he had a chance to relax a bit. Within that, though, his mind drifted a bit. An admitted overthinker – a trait which he said usually benefits him – Gardner began digesting the sort of pressure that could be placed on him given the terms of the trade that brought him to the Colts.
Those terms were, of course, two first-round picks and a talented young wide receiver; it was a steep price but one the AFC South-leading Colts were willing to pay to get a player as skilled, accomplished and young as Gardner.
"I was just like, man, what more do I need to do?" Gardner said. "Just chasing certain things, like all the pressure's on me — I don't really feel pressure like that, but feeling like I need to just do X, Y and Z, so many of these things."
But when Gardner showed up at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Monday after the Colts' bye week, he received a meaningful message delivered to him by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
"You had a great game. We just need you to be you," Anarumo told Gardner. "Given everything that happened, we don't need you to feel like all the pressure is on you because as long as you're at your best and you're being there for your teammates, that's all that matters."
That was exactly what Gardner needed to hear.
"It meant a lot," Gardner said. "It was kind of shocking — it was kind of shocking because I was like, were you reading my mind over the bye week or something?
"... It definitely meant a lot and changed my perspective when it comes to things. Because when I was out there, I was just doing my job and the other 10 guys were doing their job, so it was kind of, like, easy. Everybody's doing their 1/11 and I feel like that's how football should be played, that's how defense should be played. I can't make it more than that."
Anarumo, on Tuesday, explained why he went with that message to Gardner.
"When you're a guy like that, and certainly he knows what the trade was for, and he's a prideful guy and he certainly doesn't want to disappoint," Anarumo said. "He's that kind of person, just as I get to know him. And I just wanted to let him know that I don't care who you are, it's not about just one person. And go out there, play free, and you don't – have your mind clear and don't worry about putting all that added extra pressure on you because if you do that, then you're just weighing yourself down. So, I just wanted to let him know that I'm not thinking that way. I just want him to go out and be the best version of him and if he does that, that'll be good enough and we'll win a bunch of games."
Gardner hadn't played in a game his team won since Dec. 15, 2024 before Week 10. Against the Falcons, though, Gardner nearly had a pick-six and played a largely clean game in Berlin, helping push the Colts to a 31-25 overtime victory.
"He's a very aware player," Anarumo said. "Very smart, very intelligent guy. Picked up the system very well. Really didn't have an error in terms of an assignment. But now he'll have a feel and have a whole week of knowing what's going on around him a little more. Where his help is a little more, what's the intent of each call. Not that he didn't know fully, but let's – he had three days, so. Part of that was traveling to Germany. So, I think with a full week's work and as we progress during the season, it'll only get better."
When Gardner takes the field in the Colts' Week 12 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, he'll do so having had a normal week of preparation. He'll also do so without feeling pressure to do anything else than be himself – which, to this point in his career, has worked awfully well for the two-time first-team AP All-Pro.
And Gardner, this time, will go through that Monday-to-Saturday prep with one team.
"It just worked out exactly how I wanted it to. Everything is great here," Gardner said. "Everything — staff, my teammates, coaches, everybody is just great. This is where I want to be. I feel like I bring a lot to the table, I feel like this organization brings a lot to the table for me. It's just great."
