Melvin Gordon facts for kids
Gordon with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017
|
|||||||||||||
| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | April 13, 1993 Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Melvin Gordon III (born April 13, 1993) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was recognized as a unanimous All-American and won the Doak Walker Award in 2014. This award goes to the best college running back. The San Diego Chargers chose him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. He was the 15th player picked overall.
Gordon once held the record for most rushing yards in a single game in college football. He gained 408 yards in three quarters against Nebraska in November 2014. This record was broken just one week later. He also became the second-leading rusher in a single season in college history. He had 2,587 yards, just shy of Barry Sanders' record from 1988.
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. There, he was a star in two sports: football and track.
Football Achievements in High School
As a junior, he ran for 1,098 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He also caught five touchdown passes. In his senior year, he was named first-team All-state. He rushed for 2,009 yards and scored 38 touchdowns. Gordon was also named the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year.
Track and Field Success
Gordon was also a top track and field athlete. He was very good at the long jump. He ran the 55-meter dash in 6.39 seconds, winning first place. He also ran the 100-meter dash in 10.95 seconds. At the 2011 state championships, he won a silver medal in the long jump. His best jump was 7.20 meters (about 23 feet, 7 inches).
Choosing a College Team
Many colleges wanted Gordon to play for them. He was considered a top recruit. He chose to play for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He had also considered offers from other big schools.
College Football Career
Gordon played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2011 to 2014.
2011 Season: Starting Out
As a freshman in 2011, Gordon played in three games. He rushed for 98 yards and scored one touchdown. He got his first college touchdown against South Dakota. He later got a medical redshirt because of a groin injury. This meant he could play an extra year of college football.
2012 Season: Breaking Out
In 2012, Gordon was the third-string running back. He had a great game against UTEP, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown. He set a new personal record with 216 yards on just nine carries. This happened in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game. The Badgers won that game 70–31 against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. For the whole 2012 season, he rushed for 621 yards and three touchdowns.
2013 Season: A Strong Year
In 2013, Gordon and teammate James White shared the running back duties. Gordon started the season strong with 144 rushing yards and a touchdown against Massachusetts. He had another big game against Tennessee Tech, rushing for 140 yards. Against Arizona State, he gained 193 yards and scored two touchdowns. He scored three touchdowns against Purdue and Illinois. Gordon decided to stay at Wisconsin for his junior year. He wanted to get closer to his degree and help his team win the Big Ten championship. In the 2014 Capital One Bowl, he rushed for 143 yards. For the 2013 season, Gordon rushed for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns.
2014 Season: Record-Breaking Performance
The 2014 season was Gordon's chance to be the main running back. Many people thought he could win the Heisman Trophy. On September 20, he had a career-high five rushing touchdowns and 253 rushing yards against Bowling Green. Two weeks later, he rushed for 259 yards against Northwestern.
On November 15, Gordon broke a 15-year-old college football record. He rushed for 408 yards against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He did this in only three quarters and scored four touchdowns. This record was broken the very next week by another player. Gordon also broke Wisconsin's school record and the Big Ten Conference record for rushing yards in a game. He won many "Player of the Week" awards for this amazing game.
On November 22, Gordon rushed for 200 yards against Iowa. He became only the 17th player in college football history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. He reached this mark faster than anyone before him. Gordon was named a finalist for the Maxwell Award and won the Doak Walker Award. He was also named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year.
Gordon was one of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy. He finished second in the voting. After the season, he decided to enter the NFL Draft. In his final college game, the 2015 Outback Bowl, he rushed for 251 yards. He set a new Outback Bowl rushing record 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 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Honors
- 2014 season
- Doak Walker Award
- Jim Brown Trophy
- Chicago Tribune Silver Football Award
- Unanimous All-American
- Unanimous 1st Team All-Big Ten
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
- Big Ten Running Back of the Year
- 3× Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
- Outback Bowl MVP
- 2013 season
- Second-team All-Big Ten
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
- Academic All-Big Ten
- 2012 season
- Academic All-Big Ten
College Records
.jpg)
- Fastest player to reach 2,000 yards rushing in a season (241 carries in 2014)
- Most rushing yards by teammates in a season (3,536 with Corey Clement in 2014)
- Highest average rushing yards per carry in a career (7.79)
- Most rushing yards in a Big Ten Conference season (1,648 in 2014)
- Most rushing yards in a game (408 vs. Nebraska on November 15, 2014)
- Most rushing yards in a post-season game (251 in 2015 Outback Bowl)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a game (5, tied)
Professional Football Career
Joining the NFL
After his college career, Melvin Gordon prepared for the NFL Combine. This is where college players show off their skills for NFL teams. The San Diego Chargers chose Gordon in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the 15th player picked overall.
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers (2015–2019)
On May 15, 2015, Gordon signed a four-year contract with the Chargers.
2015 Season: Rookie Year
Gordon started as the Chargers' main running back. In his first game, he rushed for 51 yards. He had a season-high 88 rushing yards in Week 2. He played in 14 games, starting 12 of them. He rushed for 641 yards but did not score any touchdowns. His season ended early due to a knee injury.
2016 Season: First Touchdowns and Pro Bowl
Gordon had surgery in January 2016 but was ready for training camp. In the first game of the season, he scored his first two NFL rushing touchdowns. After a teammate's injury, Gordon became the Chargers' main running back. He had a very productive game against the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 196 yards. He finished the season with 997 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 419 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Gordon was chosen for his first Pro Bowl as a replacement player.
2017 Season: Over 1,000 Rushing Yards
In 2017, Gordon continued to be a key player. He scored a receiving touchdown in the first game. In Week 5, he rushed for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns, earning him "AFC Offensive Player of the Week." He had an 87-yard rushing touchdown against the New England Patriots, which was one of the longest runs in Chargers history. He finished the season with 1,105 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He also had 476 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
2018 Season: Another Pro Bowl Year
The Chargers used an option to keep Gordon for a fifth year on his contract. In the first game, he had 102 receiving yards. In Week 2, he scored three touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving). He had a great game against the Cleveland Browns, rushing for 132 yards and three touchdowns. He earned his second Pro Bowl nomination for his strong performance. The Chargers made the playoffs. In his playoff debut, he scored a rushing touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
2019 Season: Holdout and Return
In 2019, Gordon changed his jersey number back to 25, which he wore in college. He held out from training camp, asking for a new contract. He believed he was worth as much as other top running backs. He returned to the team in late September. In Week 7, he had a tough moment when he fumbled the ball near the goal line, which cost the Chargers a chance to win. However, he later scored his first rushing touchdown of the season in Week 8. In Week 10, he rushed for 108 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season. He finished the 2019 season with 612 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He became a free agent after the season.
Denver Broncos (2020–2022)
On March 26, 2020, Gordon signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos.
2020 Season: Leading the Broncos
Gordon made his Broncos debut in Week 1, scoring a rushing touchdown. In Week 4, he rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Jets. He finished the 2020 season leading the Broncos in rushing. He had 986 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
2021 Season: Sharing the Backfield
In 2021, Gordon shared the running back duties with rookie Javonte Williams. In Week 1, he had 101 rushing yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. He finished the season with 918 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Gordon and Williams formed one of the most effective running back duos in the NFL.
2022 Season: Moving On
Gordon re-signed with the Broncos for one year in April 2022. He played in 10 games before being released in November. He had 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Broncos that season.
Kansas City Chiefs (2022)
Gordon joined the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad in November 2022. He was part of the team that won Super Bowl LVII. Even though he didn't play in the Super Bowl or regular season games for them, he earned a Super Bowl ring. His contract with the Chiefs ended after the season.
Baltimore Ravens (2023)
On July 21, 2023, Gordon signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He was released and then re-signed to their practice squad. He was later moved to the active roster. In Week 17, he scored his first rushing touchdown with the Ravens. He played in four games for the Ravens in the 2023 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 | |
Personal Life
In 2018, Gordon started the Beyond the Flash Foundation. This foundation helps fight hunger and supports families in need. It works with organizations in California, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
Images for kids
-
Melvin Gordon with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017
-
Gordon during a 56-yard touchdown run in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game
-
Gordon rushing against Western Illinois
-
Gordon running against the Iowa Hawkeyes defense in 2014
-
Gordon with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2014
-
Gordon at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2015
-
Gordon stopped just short of the endzone in a game against the Tennessee Titans
-
Gordon playing against the Washington Football Team in 2021
