Melvin Gordon

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 the following week. 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.

In Their Own Story

The air inside MetLife Stadium was crisp as the ball snapped. Gordon took the handoff, lowering his shoulder pads against the defensive line. He didn't hesitate; with a burst of acceleration, he slipped past a linebacker's grasp, eyes locked on the end zone. The crowd roared, sensing another big play in the making, a fleeting moment where the Giants' offense looked unstoppable.

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 and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin and 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. 24 running 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.