Did Josh Gordon struggle with NFL teams like Chiefs and Browns? Tracing XFL star's riddled past
Josh Gordon represents one of the biggest examples of an NFL player with the potential to become an absolute superstar, only to have his career ruined by off-field issues. He was one of the best wide receivers in the entire league during the short-lived peak of his career. But his non-football issues are what defined his NFL career in the end.
The Cleveland Browns selected Josh Gordon during the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft. He showed incredible potential during his first year with the team, recording 50 receptions for 805 yards and five touchdowns in just 13 games.
That potential turned into immediate production the following season as he established himself among the best offensive weapons in the NFL.
Josh Gordon led the entire NFL with 1,646 receiving yards while being selected as a first-team All-Pro during the 2013 NFL season. He immediately joined the list of elite players and was expected to be an offensive force for many years to come.
Unfortunately, this is where things took a negative turn. His off-the-field issues took centerstage and he was never the same again.
Gordon was suspended for 11 games the following season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He continued to fail several drug tests while trying to be reinstated and missed the entire 2015 and 2016 NFL seasons for continual violations.
He was eventually reinstated late in the 2017 season and played during the 2018 season, until he voluntarily stepped away due to a relapse.
The New England Patriots signed Gordon during the 2018 season, but cut him in 2019, when he joined the Seattle Seahawks. He was suspended again during the 2019 season for another violation of the substance abuse policy and missed the entire 2020 season for failing to meet the NFL's terms of his reinstatement. He finally complied in 2021 and joined the Kansas City Chiefs.
Josh Gordon completed the 2021 season with the Chiefs without any issues, before briefly joining the Tennessee Titans in 2022 for his final NFL stop. In all, he has been part of five different teams and has been suspended six times, while missing three full seasons and four partial seasons.
He recorded more yards and touchdowns in his first two years with the Browns than he did in the next nine years combined.
What could have been will always be the question surrounding Josh Gordon's NFL career. Now 31 years old, it's unlikely that he has another elite run in the NFL left in him, but he's still continuing a professional football career in the XFL.
Josh Gordon will continue his career as a WR in the XFL
Josh Gordon was selected by the Seattle Sea Dragons in the sixth round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft. If not for his long list of off-the-field issues, he likely would have been drafted much higher, as he seems to be one of the most talented players available. The Sea Dragons took a chance on him because of this.
In his first game of the 2023 XFL season, Gordon looked like one of the best players on the football field. He recorded six receptions for 74 yards and caught the first touchdown pass of the season from Ben DiNucci. He will look to stay on track with his new team.