Sauce Gardner Says NFL Refs Call 'More Stuff' on Him Because of Jets' Struggles

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner expressed his belief after Monday night's 27-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins that he is officiated more harshly than other defensive backs because he plays for a losing team.

Speaking to reporters after the Jets fell to 0-4 on the season, Gardner said he is "personally frustrated," before giving his theory on referee bias:

"I watch football all the time and I just feel like—I don't know if this is wrong to say—but I think I get called for more stuff just based off of us not winning. I watch these winning programs and there'd be some egregious things, and it don't get called. They're letting the players play."

With the Jets trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, Gardner was called for pass interference when it was determined that he obstructed Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

▶️ Full Jets-Dolphins Recap

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Running back De'Von Achane went on to score a touchdown on that drive, extending the Miami lead to 24-10.

It marked the second consecutive week that Gardner was whistled for DPI, and the 25-year-old DB has now been flagged four times in four games.

Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, Gardner leads the Jets in penalties this season after being called for 10 penalties last season. Sauce has the fifth-most penalties in the NFL among cornerbacks thus far in 2025 as well.

After the Jets selected Gardner fourth overall in the 2022 NFL draft out of Cincinnati, he was named a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, along with winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2022.

Last season, Gardner was neither a Pro Bowler nor an All-Pro, as he finished with a career-low 49 tackles and nine passes defended to go along with only one interception.

Despite that, the Jets signed Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July, making him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback in terms of total value and average annual value.

The Jets are in the midst of the NFL's longest active playoff drought, having not reached the postseason since 2010.

There is no end in sight for that drought either, as New York is off to an 0-4 start on the heels of finishing 5-12 last season.

Things are about to get even tougher for Gardner and the Jets' secondary as well, with New York set to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 after Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns on the talented Green Bay Packers defense in Week 4.