Young Jets fan has viral meltdown over shocking Sauce Gardner trade to Colts

Sports are a business? Try telling that to a child whose favorite player just got traded. 

A young New York Jets fan had an epic meltdown after learning that star cornerback Sauce Gardner had been sent to the Indianapolis Colts in a blockbuster trade ahead of the NFL deadline.

T.J. Vilardi, a long-time Jets’ season-ticket holder, filmed himself breaking the news to his sons when they got home from school Tuesday afternoon. 

Vilardi’s older son took the news well, even asking about the details of the trade and the Jets’ additional moves. 

His younger son? Not so much.

The child immediately burst into tears, stomped his feet and started screaming. 

“Now I don’t like the Jets. The Jets are the worst,” he yelled, fighting through tears.

“I like the Colts now!”

The clip went viral on social media and even prompted a response from Gardner.

“You should’ve at least waited til tmrw,” the cornerback replied, adding a pair of crying emojis. 

The child wasn’t the only one shocked by Tuesday’s announcement. 

told ESPN.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s departure comes just months after he agreed to a record-breaking, four-year, $120.4 million extension to stay in New York.

But the Jets, who have posted a miserable 1-7 record this season, orchestrated a full-blown fire sale at the deadline — also sending defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Jets ended Tuesday with an exceptional deadline haul, headlined by three first-round draft picks across 2026 and 2027. 

Maybe the young fan will come back around.