Melvin Gordon
Former NFL running back and Wisconsin Badgers standout who set the FBS single-game rushing record with 408 yards.
Melvin Gordon III (born April 13, 1993) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning the Doak Walker Award as the top college running back in 2014. Gordon was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft with the 15th overall pick. He was also a member of the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens.
Quick Facts
- Team affiliation
- Los Angeles Chargers (2015–2019)
- Denver Broncos (2020–2022)
- etc.
- Status
- Active/Retired (never played for Giants)
Lore & Background
Gordon briefly held the NCAA Division I FBS single-game rushing yards record with 408 yards, set playing in three quarters against Nebraska in November 2014, until it was broken later that same season by Samaje Perine. He became the second-leading all-time single-season rusher in FBS history with 2,587 yards, falling 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders' record of 2,628 yards set in 1988.
Reader's Guide
Gordon attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2011 through 2014 under head coaches Bret Bielema, Barry Alvarez, and Gary Andersen. In 2012, he was the third string running back behind Montee Ball and James White. In 2013, he recorded 206 carries for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2014, he was Wisconsin's featured running back and a Heisman Trophy contender.
Did You Know?
- Gordon was born in Nashville, Tennessee and moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin as a child. He briefly attended Grayslake Central High School in Illinois before transferring to Mary D. Bradford High School.
- He was a two-sport star in football and track, and was the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year.
- Gordon was ranked the No. 2 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals.com and the top player in Wisconsin by ESPN.com.
- He originally committed to the University of Iowa but decommitted and chose the University of Wisconsin–Madison instead.
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