Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, an American football cornerback for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, got his nickname “Sauce” from a football coach. He was chosen in the NFL Draft on April 28, 2022 with the fourth pick of the first round by the New York Jets.
 
New York City is called the “Big Apple,” and “Sauce” Gardner was immediately dubbed “Big Apple Sauce” by many people on Twitter.
   
“Big Apple Sauce” is also the title of an episode of The Sauce (a seven-episode dance competition series) that premiered on April 6, 2020.
         
“Big Apple Turnover” (Ray Williams nickname on the New York Knicks in 1979) and “Big Apple Turnover” (Julius Randle on the New York Knicks in 2019) and also “Big Apple Turnover” (Daniel Jones nickname on the New York Giants in 2019) is another “Big Apple” sports player nickname.
 
   
Wikipedia: Sauce Gardner
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (born August 31, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Gardner was drafted 4th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
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Personal life
His nickname “Sauce” was given to him by a football coach at age six due to his affinity for dipping sauces.
         
Twitter
Westhoff
@_westhoff_
Replying to @RichCimini
You say it’s a bad joke but on his breakout game you know the
@nypost would have “Big Apple Sauce” on the back page.
5:50 PM · Mar 6, 2022·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Wolf
@Wareye_Wander
@gmfb @PSchrags I see you at 5 to the NYG Big Apple “Sauce” Gardner
9:38 AM · Mar 9, 2022·Twitter for Android
     
Twitter
PFF Draft
@PFF_College
Big Apple Sauce 🗽
(“Sauce” Gardner is projected to be drafted by the New York Giants.—ed.)
6:26 PM · Mar 10, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Nukebizzle
@ChasePhillips19
The Jets or Giants simply have to draft Sauce Gardner from Cincinnati
& the only reason is because his nickname would be Big Apple Sauce 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
4:34 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
       
Twitter
Pickswise
@Pickswise
BIG APPLE SAUCE 🍎
Jets select Sauce Gardner at No. 4 😤
(presented by @YahooFantasy)
8:34 PM · Apr 28, 2022·TweetDeck
 
Twitter
Rich Cimini
@RichCimini
BREAKING: With the 4th pick, the Jets select Cincinnati CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Break out the “Apple Sauce” headlines. #Jets #NFLDraft
8:34 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
At No. 4, the #Jets go defense, too. They select Cincy CB Sauce Gardner. Two CBs in a row and top two off the board. And yes, Apple Sauce for the tabloids tomorrow.
8:34 PM · Apr 28, 2022·TweetDeck
     
Twitter
Mike Kaye
@mike_e_kaye
The #Jets are getting some Big Apple Sauce ...
8:34 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter Web App
   
Twitter
Optimistic Jets
@OptimisticJets
WELCOME TO NY APPLE SAUCE ✈️ 🥫
8:34 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Ben Shpigel
@benshpigel
Big Applesauce
8:36 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter Web App
     
Twitter
Bruce Beck
@BruceBeck4NY
#Jets get Sauce Gardner - the cornerback who is incredibly physical, explosive and has outrageous length! So we have “Big Apple” Sauce!
8:36 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
TitansTonk
@TitansTonk
Sauce to New York City?
Sounds like some BIG APPLE Sauce
*we’ll see ourselves out *
@AllanBell247 @AustinHuff
#NFLDraft
8:37 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Barstool Cincinnati
@UCBarstool
BIG APPLE SAUCE
8:39 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
       
Twitter
karlee
@kar__lee
Sauce Gardner in the Big Apple…. call that… Applesauce
8:39 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
     
Twitter
Nixon
@fhnixon
Big Apple Sauce is the best nickname in sports history. Period. Jets got it right and are probably still gonna move up to get Ickey or Neal.
8:39 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Bearcats Nation
@GoBearcatsUC
BIG APPLE SAUCE 🍏 #Bearcats
8:40 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Matt (dreadfully close to “late-30s”)
@HazMatt23
Did anybody say Big Apple Sauce yet? #NFLDraft
8:53 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
 
For The Win
Everyone made the same dad joke about Sauce Gardner getting drafted by the New York Jets
Charles Curtis
April 28, 2022 8:59 pm ET
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is now a New York Jet after he was taken fourth overall by the franchise on Thursday night.
 
And with a nickname like that, you’re going to be a headline-maker, especially in New York City with their tabloids and punny back pages.
 
So, sure enough, when the pick dropped, everyone made the same dad joke: Some variation of “BIG APPLE SAUCE” or “APPLE SAUCE.”
     
Twitter
Barstool Cincinnati
@UCBarstool
Absolutely NEED to get the nickname Big Apple Sauce trending
9:11 PM · Apr 28, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
 
CBS New York
Eye on the NFL Draft: A CBS New York special
BY CBS NEW YORK TEAM
UPDATED ON: APRIL 28, 2022 / 11:59 PM / CBS/AP
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UPDATED 11:55 PM
Jets get CB Gardner, WR Wilson, DE Johnson in 1st round
The New York Jets are adding some Big Apple Sauce to their defense. A big-time edge rusher, too.
   
New York (NY) Post
The origin of Ahmad Gardner’s ‘Sauce’ nickname
By Brian Costello
April 29, 2022 2:49am Updated
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Ahmad Gardner was taken No. 4 overall by the Jets in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, but you won’t find many people calling him Ahmad. He is known as “Sauce” Gardner.
 
He explained the history of the nickname recently to the NFL Network. He said the nickname came from one of his youth football coaches, Curtez Harris.
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Now, he will be known as Big Apple Sauce.