The age discrepancy surrounding Sauce Gardner has finally been addressed. Before this week, searching online would claim he’s 25, but the reality is different.
The Colts standout is, in fact, 24 years old. In an unusual twist during the final day of Indy’s mandatory minicamp, Gardner had to clarify his age.
“I’m 24, by the way,” Gardner informed reporters. “Yeah, I’m 24.”
Gardner ranks among the elite corners in the NFL. As a two-time All-Pro and former first-round draft pick, the question arises: How did such a mix-up persist for so long? Let’s unpack that.
Understanding the Age Confusion
Kudos to James Boyd of The Athletic, who was the first to highlight the inconsistencies surrounding Gardner’s age.
For years, if you checked ESPN.com, Pro Football Reference, or even Wikipedia, Gardner’s birthdate was noted as August 31, 2000, accounting for that erroneous 25-year age. Conversely, NFL.com and the Colts’ official site listed his birthday as August 31, 2001, which correctly states his age as 24.
While it makes sense to trust the NFL’s and the Colts’ information, things aren’t quite that straightforward. Even though his age is accurate on the league’s site, it was incorrectly cataloged in the 2025 NFL Record and Fact book. This discrepancy dates back to 2022 when he entered the league as a fourth overall pick for the New York Jets.
Highlighted below is his erroneous 2025 listing.
And here’s the entry from his rookie year.
If many sites referenced the record and fact book, it’s easy to see how this year-long mix-up occurred.
“Clubs notify us of any incorrect birthdates that would have appeared on their college sites when a player signs,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy stated. “Players also self-verify their birthdates and other personal information through a player portal.”
According to Gardner, both his passport and driver’s license confirm his birthday as August 31, 2001. Despite the misinformation circulating online, official documents reflect the truth.
“When it comes to the paperwork and everything I’ve signed, it all says ’01,” Gardner mentioned. “So I don’t know where or how it got messed up unless people just get it straight from Google.”
Gardner played college ball at Cincinnati, where the program doesn’t list birthdays on player profiles. This likely led to widespread reliance on the faulty 2022 Record and Fact book as a reference.
The bottom line is that the Colts now boast a 24-year-old cornerback locked into a contract through the 2029 season, providing them an even better advantage than initially thought.
Also, if you’re planning a birthday celebration for Gardner this August 31, make sure to have 24 candles lined up instead of 25.
