Sauce Gardner says he was born in 2001, not 2000

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner has clarified that he was born on Aug. 31, 2001, after some widely used online profiles listed his birth year as 2000. Speaking to reporters as the Colts wrapped up their final offseason practice in Indianapolis, Gardner said the incorrect listing has repeatedly resurfaced and left many people assuming he is older than he is.

Gardner said the correct birth year is reflected in the paperwork he has signed and that his driver’s license confirms the 2001 date. The dispute, he suggested, appears to stem from information being pulled from general online searches rather than primary documentation.

Several prominent reference pages had shown Gardner’s birthday as Aug. 31, 2000, which would make him 25. Colts and league materials, however, list the date as Aug. 31, 2001, meaning Gardner is 24.

The mix-up surfaced during a conversation about his leadership role on defense, a label often attached to players who have been in the league for several seasons. Gardner is entering his fifth NFL season, but he noted he remains relatively young compared with some new entrants to the league.

How the discrepancy spread across player databases

The confusion underscores how errors in athlete metadata can persist once they are replicated across multiple platforms. When a birth date is misfiled on a high-traffic profile, it can quickly become the default reference for aggregators and even fans who assume the information has been verified.

In this case, Gardner said he has consistently stated his birth year as 2001. He indicated he does not know where the 2000 listing originated, but he described the situation as another example of inaccurate details being copied and circulated without cross-checking official records.

Colts records and what it means for the season ahead

A Colts spokesperson said the team has had Gardner’s birth year correct in its materials since acquiring him in a high-profile trade last year. The club expects Gardner to be a central figure in its defensive plans this season.

With training camp and roster preparations still ahead, the immediate impact of the clarification is largely informational. The larger takeaway for teams and data providers is the importance of verifying biographical details against league and club documentation to prevent long-running errors from becoming accepted as fact.

Gardner and the Colts will now turn their focus from offseason practices to the next phase of preparations, with the cornerback expected to play a prominent role in Indianapolis’ defense.