Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner: 'My Family Had The Best Christmas Ever'

The rookie NFL phenom is fulfilling his wildest dreams.

CINCINNATI — UC product Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner appeared on the Official Jets Podcast this week and discussed how his family's Christmas changed in a big way this year.

"I can truly say my family probably had the best Christmas ever. You know, I just gotta give thanks to the NFL, to the Jets, and the game of football because I honor it so much, and the things that my family wanted, the kids, you know, I was able to make that happen. So, you know, that was great and I'm truly blessed for that."

Gardner has stepped into the NFL and immediately dominated. He is on pace to be the first rookie since Marcus Peters (2015) to lead the league in pass breakups. He rarely gets targeted now and is the first Jets rookie to make a Pro Bowl since the late 80s.

Gardner got his mom a mink coat for Christmas, and he went in-depth on her influence on his life and how she molded his mindset to reach the NFL.

"The area where I grew up is a place called Seven Mile on the east side [of Detroit]," Gardner said. "It was a tough area, a lot of violence going on. But, you know, like I said, my mom was my role model, she my superhero. With all that violence that was going on, my mom was strict, strict about it. She wanted me to, you know, take a different route and be on a different path. You know what I mean? So, like, I was one of those people who always wanted to be different. No, my mom is telling me like, 'your friends they do this they do that. What are you gonna do to be different if you want to go where you want to go?' 

"So I remember, I could only control what I could control. So I said I was never gonna smoke or drink. And I never did. I still never have you. I pride myself on stuff like that because I remember in college, people used to peer pressure me but, you know, I'm a man of my word."

Gardner's accomplished all the things he said he would so far in his young NFL career.

Now he gets to face former running mate Coby Bryant and the Seahawks this week. Gardner doesn't like doing jersey swaps but he's excited to get Bryant's on Sunday.

Check out the game at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX via fuboTV—start your free trial here.

Make sure you bookmark All Bearcats for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You May Also Like the following:

Preview Paw Prints: Tulane Green Wave

Recruiting Roundup: UC Offers Pair Of Four-Star Running Backs

Report: UC Hiring First Football General Manager In School's History

NFL Executives Overwhelming Name Sauce Gardner NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year

2022 UC Football Signing Day Tracker

UC Cornerback Arquon Bush Declares For 2023 NFL Draft

Sauce Gardner, Kelce Brothers Make 2023 NFL Pro Bowl

UC Running Back Charles McClelland Declares For 2023 NFL Draft

Watch: Viktor Lakhin, Ody Oguama, Wes Miller Discuss 72-54 Win Over Detroit Mercy

Three Man Weave: Cincinnati Rolls 72-54 Over Antoine Davis, Detroit

Watch: UC Head Coach Scott Satterfield Discusses Transfer QB Emory Jones, 2023 Football Class

UC Offensive Tackle James Tunstall Declares For 2023 NFL Draft

Watch: Desmond Ridder Hypes Up Falcons, Hits Drake London Over The Middle In first NFL Start

Final Huddle: UC Falls Flat Against Louisville 24-7 In Fenway Bowl

Look: Louisville Brings Keg Of Nails To Fenway Bowl; UC Releases Final Hype Video Of 2022 Season

Look: UC Rocking 'The Cats' Throwback Uniforms Against Miami

New-Look Bearcats Ready For Fenway Bowl Against Louisville

UC's Ivan Pace Jr., Mason Fletcher, Dontay Corleone Named AP All-Americans

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bearcats all the time!

Follow All Bearcats on Twitter: @AllBearcats

Like All Bearcats on FaceBook: All Bearcats

Follow All Bearcats on Instagram: @BearcatsTalk