Dillon Gordon facts for kids

Dillon Gordon, born on September 2, 1993, is a former American football player. He played as an offensive tackle, which is a position on the offensive line. Dillon played college football for LSU. After college, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. He was signed as an undrafted free agent, meaning he wasn't chosen in the main NFL draft but was still picked up by a team.

Dillon Gordon's College Football Journey

Dillon Gordon started playing football at LSU in 2012. In his first year, he played in 13 games. He helped the offense as a blocking right end and also played on special teams.

Playing as a Tight End

The next year, as a sophomore, Dillon became a starter. He started 12 out of 13 games. He was a tight end and caught six passes for 88 yards, which was the most for any LSU tight end that season.

In 2014, Dillon started all 13 regular season games again. He was mostly used as a blocking tight end. This meant he helped clear the way for running backs like Leonard Fournette to gain yards.

Dealing with Injuries

Dillon began his third season as the starting tight end. However, he got a serious Achilles injury in Week 3. He tried to come back in Week 7 against the Florida Gators. Sadly, he injured his Achilles again, which ended his season.

After his injury, Dillon asked the NCAA for permission to play a fifth year. This is called a hardship waiver. However, his request was not approved.

Dillon Gordon's Professional Football Career

After his college career ended, Dillon Gordon prepared to join the National Football League (NFL).

Before the NFL Draft

Dillon was not invited to the NFL Combine, which is where college players show their skills to pro teams. He also couldn't participate in LSU's Pro Day because of his Achilles injury. Experts thought he would not be chosen in the NFL draft. This is common for blocking tight ends from college teams that focus on running the ball.

Dillon had planned to play another year at LSU. But when his request for a fifth year was denied, he decided to enter the NFL draft. He had only a few days to get ready. He quickly held a workout for NFL scouts and team representatives to show what he could do.

Time with the Philadelphia Eagles

Dillon Gordon was not drafted in the 2016 NFL draft. However, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him right after the draft. He started his career with the Eagles as a tight end and wore jersey number 83.

After team workouts and training camp, the Eagles decided to change Dillon's position. They moved him from tight end to offensive guard. His jersey number also changed to 69. On September 3, 2016, the Eagles announced that Dillon had made their main 53-player roster. He showed he could play many different positions during the preseason. He played fullback, tight end, offensive tackle, and guard.

While with the Eagles, Dillon was mentored by All-Pro teammate Jason Peters. Both players were mainly blocking tight ends in college. They both went undrafted and then switched to offensive tackle in the pros.

On September 2, 2017, the Eagles released Dillon. He was then signed to their practice squad the next day. He was released by the Eagles again on December 8, 2017.

Playing for the Kansas City Chiefs

On December 12, 2017, Dillon Gordon joined the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. He signed a contract with the Chiefs on January 10, 2018. This contract meant he would be with the team for the next season.

During the first preseason game of 2018, Dillon suffered a shoulder injury. This injury kept him from playing for the entire season. He was placed on injured reserve on August 11, 2018. He was released by the Chiefs on March 25, 2019.

Time with the Carolina Panthers

On March 26, 2019, the Carolina Panthers picked up Dillon Gordon. However, he was placed on injured reserve again on August 10, 2019, due to another shoulder injury.

Dillon Gordon's Personal Life

Dillon Gordon was raised by his parents, Rita and Bernard Jarrow. He has family members who also played in the NFL. His cousin, Tyson Jackson, was a defensive end who played for the Atlanta Falcons. Another cousin, Quinn Johnson, was a fullback who played in the NFL for six years with the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans. On March 30, 2019, Dillon Gordon married his longtime girlfriend, Mariah Davis.