Rapper Ice Spice Confirms Relationship With Jets Star Sauce Gardner
Chart-topping rapper Ice Spice has officially confirmed her relationship with New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, ending months of speculation with a mirror selfie that quickly went viral across social media platforms. The 24-year-old Bronx native shared the intimate photo in an Instagram carousel on April 29, sending fans into a frenzy and establishing what many are already calling the NFL’s newest power couple.
The relationship confirmation marks a significant personal milestone for the “Princess Diana” performer, who has previously kept her romantic life largely private despite her meteoric rise to fame. Gardner, 25, a two-time All-Pro cornerback considered one of the NFL’s elite defensive players, brings his own considerable star power to the relationship, according to Billboard.
Social Media Reveal Follows Months of Speculation
The couple’s bathroom mirror selfie, which showed them standing close together in coordinated white outfits, provided definitive evidence of a romance that had been rumored since early 2025. “Ice Spice and N.Y. Jets star Sauce Gardner appear to be an item, all but confirming rumors they’re seeing each other… after sharing a cozy selfie that gave off serious couple vibes,” TMZ reported.
The relationship speculation began when the rapper was spotted at several Jets games during the 2024-2025 NFL season, with social media detectives noticing their increasingly frequent public appearances together. The rumors intensified on April 1 when Gardner posted photos featuring the rapper on his own Instagram account, with Ice Spice commenting “1” — Gardner’s jersey number — on the post, according to E! News.
“Initial suspicions arose in September when the rapper attended a Jets game, followed by several low key outings together, including at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party,” E! News reported, tracing the relationship’s development. The couple appears to have strategically controlled the narrative around their romance, allowing speculation to build before providing confirmation on their own terms.
Sports World Reacts to High-Profile Pairing
The relationship announcement has generated significant buzz in both music and sports circles, with fans and fellow celebrities weighing in on the high-profile pairing. “Sauce Gardner has been in the NFL 3 years and is a 2x-All Pro, DROY, dating Ice Spice and became a single digit handicap after never playing golf before. That’s a hell of a resume,” wrote one prominent Jets fan on social media, according to Billboard.
Gardner’s athletic achievements make him one of the NFL’s most valuable defensive players, with contract extension negotiations expected to potentially make him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in league history. “Gardner was drafted by the New York Jets fourth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s since made the All-Pro team twice in his first three years and should soon be one of the league’s highest paid cornerbacks if the Jets decide to give him a contract extension,” Billboard noted.
The timing of the relationship’s public confirmation coincides with a critical career period for Gardner, who is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract with the Jets. “One of the best player’s in his position in the NFL, Gardner is sure to command a huge contract, likely looking to amass the $30 million which fellow cornerback Derek Stingley had received earlier this offseason,” The Mirror US reported.
Ice Spice Joins Celebrity WAG Circle With Taylor Swift
The relationship connects Ice Spice to a growing contingent of high-profile women dating NFL players, most notably her friend Taylor Swift, who has been in a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce since 2023. “The new relationship marks her entry into NFL WAG territory along with her good pal Taylor Swift, whom she joined for the Super Bowl the last two years,” E! News reported.
Ice Spice and Swift have developed a close friendship, collaborating on music and appearing together at numerous events. “Taylor f–ks with me,” Ice Spice previously told Rolling Stone. “She’s so funny. I think our personalities mesh really well,” according to E! News. Their parallel romances with NFL stars now add another dimension to their friendship.
The rapper previously addressed dating rumors involving U.K. artist Central Cee, clarifying last year that their relationship was strictly professional despite their collaboration on the track “Did It First” and its romantic music video. “We’ve been friends since ‘Munch’ came out, honestly. We’re just twins,” she told Rolling Stone in July 2024, according to Coming Soon.
Career Trajectories Align for Power Couple
Both Ice Spice and Gardner are at pivotal moments in their respective careers, with the rapper preparing for her acting debut alongside Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky in Spike Lee’s upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowest,” according to Billboard. Gardner meanwhile is expected to enter contract negotiations that could make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive players.
The couple’s combined star power creates significant marketing potential, with both individuals already enjoying substantial endorsement portfolios. Ice Spice has partnered with brands including Kate Spade, Kim Kardashian’s Skims, and previously appeared in Beyoncé’s Ivy Park x Adidas campaign, according to Euronews, while Gardner has his own growing endorsement profile within the NFL landscape.
As both continue their professional ascent, their relationship adds a compelling personal dimension to their public narratives. Whether appearing courtside at NBA games or at NFL stadiums, the couple’s visibility across multiple entertainment and sports spheres positions them as one of popular culture’s most intriguing new power couples heading into the summer of 2025.
