Melvin Gordon facts for kids
Gordon with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | April 13, 1993 Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Bradford (Kenosha) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Wisconsin (2011–2014) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Melvin Gordon III (born April 13, 1993) is an American professional football player. He is a running back who is currently a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. In 2014, he was named a unanimous All-American and won the Doak Walker Award as the best college running back. The San Diego Chargers picked him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Gordon once held the record for the most rushing yards in a single game in college football's top division (408 yards). He set this record in November 2014 while playing against Nebraska. He also became the second-highest single-season rusher in college history with 2,587 yards.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Melvin Gordon was born and grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He went to Mary D. Bradford High School, where he was a star in both football and track.
In football, he ran for over 1,000 yards and scored 11 touchdowns as a junior. As a senior, he rushed for an amazing 2,009 yards and 38 touchdowns. He was even named the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year.
Gordon was also a great track and field athlete. He was one of the best long jumpers in the state. He also ran fast times in the 55-meter and 100-meter dashes.
Experts considered Gordon a top recruit for college football. He chose to play for the University of Wisconsin–Madison over other big schools.
College Football Career
Gordon played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2011 to 2014. He became one of the most exciting players in college football.
Starting Out: 2011 and 2012 Seasons
In 2011, as a freshman, Gordon played in three games. He rushed for 98 yards and scored his first college touchdown. He then took a medical break due to a groin injury.
In 2012, Gordon was the third-string running back. He had a breakout game against UTEP, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown. He then set a career high with 216 yards in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game. The Badgers won this game 70–31. For the season, he gained 621 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Big Plays in 2013
In 2013, Gordon shared carries with teammate James White. He started the season strong with 144 rushing yards and a touchdown against Massachusetts. He followed that with 140 yards on only nine carries against Tennessee Tech.
Gordon had a season-high 193 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona State. He scored three touchdowns in games against Purdue and Illinois. He decided to return to Wisconsin for his junior year, hoping to win a Big Ten championship. He finished the 2013 season with 1,609 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Record-Breaking 2014 Season
The 2014 season was huge for Gordon. Many people thought he could win the Heisman Trophy, given to the best college player. This was his first year as Wisconsin's main running back.
On September 20, he scored a career-high five touchdowns and rushed for 253 yards against Bowling Green. Two weeks later, he ran for 259 yards against Northwestern.
On November 15, Gordon made history! He set a new college football record by rushing for 408 yards in a single game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He did this on only 25 carries and in just three quarters! He also scored four touchdowns in that game. This record was later broken the very next week.
Against Iowa, Gordon rushed for 200 yards, reaching over 2,000 yards for the season. He was the fastest player in college history to reach 2,000 yards, doing it in only 241 carries.
Gordon was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing second in the voting. He decided to leave college early to enter the NFL Draft. In his final college game, the 2015 Outback Bowl, he rushed for 251 yards and was named the game's MVP. He finished the season with 2,587 rushing yards, the second-most in college football history.
College Statistics
| Wisconsin Badgers | ||||||||||||||
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| Season | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 98 | 4.9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||
| 2012 | 14 | 4 | 62 | 621 | 10.0 | 3 | 2 | 65 | 32.5 | 1 | ||||
| 2013 | 13 | 4 | 206 | 1,609 | 7.8 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | ||||
| 2014 | 14 | 14 | 343 | 2,587 | 7.5 | 29 | 19 | 153 | 8.1 | 3 | ||||
| Career | 44 | 22 | 631 | 4,915 | 7.8 | 45 | 22 | 228 | 10.4 | 4 | ||||
College Awards and Records
Gordon received many awards for his amazing college career:
- Doak Walker Award (2014) - given to the nation's best running back.
- Unanimous All-American (2014) - meaning all major selectors picked him for their All-America team.
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2014).
- Outback Bowl MVP (2015).
He also holds several records:
- Fastest player to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season (241 carries).
- Most rushing yards in a season for the Big Ten Conference (2,587 yards).
- Most rushing yards in a single game for the Big Ten Conference (408 yards).
- Most rushing touchdowns in a game for Wisconsin (5, tied).
Professional Football Career
After his great college career, Melvin Gordon was picked 15th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2015 NFL Draft.
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers (2015–2019)
2015 Season: Rookie Year
Gordon started his first NFL game on September 13, 2015. He rushed for 51 yards. He played in 14 games as a rookie, gaining 641 rushing yards. He did not score any touchdowns in his first season. He missed the end of the season due to a knee injury.
2016 Season: First Touchdowns and Pro Bowl
In 2016, Gordon scored his first two NFL touchdowns in the season opener. After a teammate's injury, Gordon became the Chargers' main running back. He had a huge game against the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 196 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 997 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also chosen for his first Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game for the NFL's best players.
2017 Season: Over 1,000 Yards
In 2017, Gordon continued to shine. He rushed for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns against the New York Giants, earning him an award as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He also had an 87-yard touchdown run, one of the longest in Chargers history. Gordon finished the season with 1,105 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 58 passes for 476 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.
2018 Season: Another Pro Bowl
The Chargers picked up the option to keep Gordon for another year in 2018. He had a strong start, with over 100 receiving yards in the first game. He scored three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. He also had a big game against the Cleveland Browns, rushing for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Gordon earned his second Pro Bowl nomination. He finished the season with 885 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, even though he missed some games due to an MCL injury. The Chargers made the playoffs, and Gordon scored two touchdowns in his first playoff games.
2019 Season: Contract Holdout
Before the 2019 season, Gordon wanted a new contract. He did not attend training camp or the first few games of the season. He eventually returned to the team in late September. He played his first game of the season in Week 5. In Week 10, he rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. He finished the 2019 season with 612 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. After the season, he became a free agent.
Denver Broncos (2020–2022)
In March 2020, Gordon signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos.
2020 Season: Leading Rusher
In his first game with the Broncos, Gordon scored a rushing touchdown. In Week 4, he rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Jets. He finished the 2020 season as the Broncos' leading rusher with 986 yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.
2021 Season: Productive Duo
In 2021, Gordon shared the backfield with rookie Javonte Williams. In Week 1, he had a 70-yard touchdown run against the New York Giants. He rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Detroit Lions in Week 14. Gordon finished the season with 918 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. He and Williams were one of the most effective running back duos in the NFL.
2022 Season: Released
Gordon re-signed with the Broncos for one year in April 2022. He played in 10 games before being released by the team in November. He had 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Broncos in 2022.
Kansas City Chiefs (2022)
Gordon joined the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in November 2022. Even though he didn't play in any games for them, he earned a Super Bowl ring when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII.
Baltimore Ravens (2023)
In July 2023, Gordon signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He was later released and then re-signed to their practice squad. He played in four games for the Ravens in 2023, scoring one rushing touchdown. His contract ended after the season.
NFL Career Statistics
Regular Season
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2015 | SD | 14 | 12 | 182 | 641 | 3.5 | 27 | 0 | 33 | 192 | 5.8 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| 2016 | SD | 13 | 11 | 254 | 997 | 3.9 | 48 | 10 | 41 | 419 | 10.2 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | LAC | 16 | 16 | 284 | 1,105 | 3.9 | 87T | 8 | 58 | 476 | 8.2 | 49 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | LAC | 12 | 12 | 175 | 885 | 5.1 | 34T | 10 | 50 | 490 | 9.8 | 66T | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | LAC | 12 | 11 | 162 | 612 | 3.8 | 24 | 8 | 42 | 296 | 7.0 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| 2020 | DEN | 15 | 10 | 215 | 986 | 4.6 | 65 | 9 | 32 | 158 | 4.9 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 203 | 918 | 4.5 | 70T | 8 | 28 | 213 | 7.6 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 | DEN | 10 | 6 | 90 | 318 | 3.5 | 17 | 2 | 25 | 223 | 8.9 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 2023 | BAL | 4 | 0 | 26 | 81 | 3.1 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 46 | 15.3 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | 112 | 94 | 1,593 | 6,543 | 4.1 | 87T | 56 | 312 | 2,513 | 8.1 | 66T | 14 | 27 | 19 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2018 | LAC | 2 | 2 | 26 | 55 | 2.1 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 26 | 55 | 2.1 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Beyond the Field: Personal Life
In 2018, Melvin Gordon started the Beyond the Flash Foundation. This organization helps fight hunger and supports families in need. It works with groups in California, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
See also
- List of Los Angeles Chargers first-round draft picks
- List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders
