History of Melvin Gordon in Timeline
Melvin Gordon III is an American free agent professional football running back. He played college football at Wisconsin, where he was a unanimous All-American and won the Doak Walker Award in 2013. The San Diego Chargers drafted him 15th overall in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
1954: Alan Ameche Wins Heisman
In 1954, Alan Ameche, playing running back for the Wisconsin Badgers, won the Heisman Trophy.
1988: Barry Sanders' Record
In 1988, Barry Sanders set the FBS single-season rushing record with 2,628 yards, a mark Gordon nearly surpassed in 2014.
1988: Barry Sanders Sets Rushing Record
In 1988, Barry Sanders set the FBS single-season rushing record with 2,628 yards.
1989: Anthony Thompson's Big Ten Record
In 1989, Anthony Thompson set the Big Ten single-game rushing record, a record later surpassed by Melvin Gordon in 2014.
April 13, 1993: Birth of Melvin Gordon III
Melvin Gordon III was born on April 13, 1993.
1996: Ron Dayne's School Record
In 1996, Ron Dayne set Wisconsin's single-game rushing record, which was later broken by Melvin Gordon in 2014.
1999: Ron Dayne Wins Heisman
In 1999, Wisconsin Badgers running back Ron Dayne won the Heisman Trophy.
2002: Larry Johnson's 2,000-Yard Mark
In 2002, Penn State's Larry Johnson reached 2,000 rushing yards, a milestone Gordon achieved faster in 2014.
2011: Freshman Season and Injury
During his freshman year in 2011, Melvin Gordon played in three games, scoring his first collegiate touchdown, before receiving a medical redshirt due to a groin injury.
2011: Track and Field Achievements
In 2011, Melvin Gordon excelled in track and field, achieving a personal best in the 55-meter dash (6.39 seconds) and taking silver in the long jump at the WIAA State Championships.
2011: Montee Ball's Heisman Candidacy
In 2011, Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball was a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing fourth in the voting.
2011: College Football at Wisconsin
Melvin Gordon began his college football career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011, playing for the Badgers.
2012: 2012 Season Performance
Over the 2012 season, Melvin Gordon rushed for 621 yards and three touchdowns.
2012: Backup Running Back and Breakout Game
In 2012, as the third-string running back, Melvin Gordon had a breakout game against Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship, rushing for 216 yards.
2012: Running Back Depth Chart
In 2012, Gordon played behind Montee Ball and James White in the Wisconsin backfield.
December 2013: Return to Wisconsin and Capital One Bowl
In December 2013, Melvin Gordon announced his decision to return to Wisconsin for his junior season and played in the Capital One Bowl against South Carolina, where the Badgers lost.
2013: Shared Backfield
In 2013, Gordon shared the Wisconsin backfield with James White, with Corey Clement serving as the third-string running back.
2013: College Football Success
In 2013, Melvin Gordon earned unanimous All-American honors and won the Doak Walker Award, recognizing him as the top college running back.
2013: Rose Bowl Appearance
Melvin Gordon participated in the 2013 Rose Bowl, where Wisconsin lost to Stanford.
November 2014: Record-Breaking Performance
In November 2014, Melvin Gordon briefly held the NCAA Division I FBS single-game rushing yards record with 408 yards against Nebraska.
2014: Melvin Gordon Prepares for NFL Combine
Following the 2014 college football season, Melvin Gordon trained at EXOS San Diego in Carlsbad, California, to prepare for the NFL Combine.
2014: Heisman Contender and Featured Running Back
In 2014, Melvin Gordon was a Heisman Trophy contender and became Wisconsin's featured running back.
2014: End of Wisconsin Career
Melvin Gordon concluded his college football career with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2014.
May 15, 2015: Melvin Gordon Signs with Chargers
On May 15, 2015, Melvin Gordon signed a four-year, $10.66 million contract with the San Diego Chargers, including a $6 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option.
September 13, 2015: Melvin Gordon's NFL Debut
On September 13, 2015, Melvin Gordon made his NFL debut as the starting running back for the Chargers against the Detroit Lions.
October 12, 2015: Melvin Gordon's Performance Against Steelers
On October 12, 2015, during a Week 5 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Melvin Gordon had seven receptions for 52 yards and 15 carries for 42 yards.
December 21, 2015: Melvin Gordon Placed on Injured Reserve
On December 21, 2015, the Chargers placed Melvin Gordon on injured reserve due to a knee injury, ending his rookie season.
2015: NFL Draft Selection
Melvin Gordon was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft with the 15th overall pick.
2015: Melvin Gordon's Final College Game
In his final college game at the 2015 Outback Bowl, Melvin Gordon rushed for 251 yards against Auburn, setting a new Outback Bowl rushing record and earning MVP honors. His season total of 2,587 rushing yards was the second-highest in FBS history at the time.
2015: High School Career and NFL Draft
In 2015, Gordon and his high school teammate, Trae Waynes, were both drafted into the NFL. Waynes was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings four spots ahead of Gordon's selection by the San Diego Chargers.
2015: Melvin Gordon at the NFL Combine
At the 2015 NFL Combine, Melvin Gordon briefly held the record for the 60-yard shuttle with a time of 11.0 seconds before it was broken by Byron Jones.
2015: Melvin Gordon Enters NFL Draft
In 2015, Melvin Gordon decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and declared for the NFL Draft.
May 10, 2016: Melvin Gordon Undergoes Microfracture Surgery
On May 10, 2016, it was revealed that Melvin Gordon underwent microfracture surgery in January but was expected to be ready for training camp.
September 11, 2016: Melvin Gordon Scores First NFL Touchdowns
On September 11, 2016, Melvin Gordon scored his first two NFL rushing touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs.
September 11, 2017: Melvin Gordon Returns from Injury
On September 11, 2017, Melvin Gordon returned from injury and scored a receiving touchdown against the Denver Broncos.
May 2, 2018: Chargers Exercise Fifth-Year Option
On May 2, 2018, the Los Angeles Chargers exercised the fifth-year option on Melvin Gordon's contract, securing his services for another season.
2018: Founds Beyond the Flash Foundation
In 2018, Melvin Gordon founded the Beyond the Flash Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger and supporting families in need in California, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
February 2019: Jersey Number Change
In February 2019, Melvin Gordon changed his jersey number from 28 to 25, reverting to the number he wore during his college career at Wisconsin.
July 13, 2019: Contract Dispute and Holdout
On July 13, 2019, Melvin Gordon informed the Chargers he would hold out for a new contract comparable to other top running backs or demand a trade.
July 16, 2019: Desire to Remain with Chargers
Despite the contract dispute, Gordon expressed his desire to remain with the Los Angeles Chargers on July 16, 2019, acknowledging their role in his career.
September 26, 2019: End of Holdout
Melvin Gordon ended his holdout and reported to the Chargers on September 26, 2019, after the team did not trade him and Ezekiel Elliott signed a new contract, resetting the running back market.
2019: 2019 Season Performance and Free Agency
In the 2019 season, Melvin Gordon played in 12 games for the Los Angeles Chargers. He recorded 612 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns, along with 296 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. The Chargers finished with a 5-11 record and Gordon became a free agent at the end of the season. Notably, he had a crucial fumble in a close loss to the Titans in Week 7.
2019: 2019 Season and Accolades
In 2019, Melvin Gordon played for the Los Angeles Chargers, earning a Pro Bowl nomination and ranking 34th on the NFL Top 100 Players list. He also had a playoff appearance in the Wild Card Round against the Ravens, followed by a loss to the Patriots in the Divisional Round.
March 26, 2020: Signs with Broncos
On March 26, 2020, Melvin Gordon agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Denver Broncos.
April 27, 2020: Broncos Contract Official
Melvin Gordon's contract with the Denver Broncos became official on April 27, 2020.
October 14, 2020: Arrest for Speeding and DUI
On October 14, 2020, Melvin Gordon was arrested in Denver, Colorado, on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and speeding. He was released after posting a $55,000 cash bond.
2020: 2020 Season with Broncos
In the 2020 season, Melvin Gordon led the Denver Broncos in rushing yards (986) and rushing touchdowns (9), despite sharing the backfield with Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. The Broncos finished with a 5-11 record.
January 14, 2021: Not Guilty Plea
On January 14, 2021, Melvin Gordon pleaded not guilty to the DUI and speeding charges stemming from his October 2020 arrest.
March 10, 2021: DUI Charge Dismissed, Guilty Plea to Other Charges
On March 10, 2021, the DUI charge against Melvin Gordon was dismissed. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of speeding and reckless driving related to his October 2020 arrest.
2021: 2021 Season with Broncos
During the 2021 season, Melvin Gordon shared the Broncos backfield with rookie Javonte Williams, forming a productive duo. He rushed for 918 yards and eight touchdowns and added 213 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. The Broncos finished with a 7-10 record.
April 27, 2022: Re-signs with Broncos
On April 27, 2022, Melvin Gordon re-signed with the Denver Broncos on a one-year deal.
November 29, 2022: Joins Chiefs Practice Squad
Melvin Gordon was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on November 29, 2022, after being waived by the Broncos.
February 12, 2023: Chiefs Contract Expires
Melvin Gordon's practice squad contract with the Kansas City Chiefs expired on February 12, 2023, following their Super Bowl LVII victory. Although he didn't play in the game itself, he earned a Super Bowl ring.
July 21, 2023: Signs with Ravens
On July 21, 2023, Melvin Gordon signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
August 29, 2023: Released by Ravens, Joins Practice Squad
The Baltimore Ravens released Melvin Gordon on August 29, 2023, but then re-signed him to their practice squad.