Know My Name: Josh Gordon
February 23, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Seattle Sea Dragons News Release
It's crazy to think that Josh Gordon has been playing professional football for over a decade.
When he burst on the scene with the Cleveland Browns as a young, dynamic wide receiver, Gordon was heralded as a rising star of the league. But then life went in a different direction for the playmaker
The now 31-year-old wide receiver has been through a football odyssey while also battling off-the-field demons.
But that journey has led him to the XFL and the Seattle Sea Dragons, where Gordon is happy to be able to continue playing football.
"It's a great opportunity," Gordon said. "To be back in it, physically active and healthy, it's a blessing to be able to run and catch so I'm glad to be here."
Gordon's breakout NFL season in 2013 was one of the most impressive by a wide receiver in recent memory. Despite missing the first two games of the season and playing for a 4-12 Cleveland Browns team, Brown led the league in receiving yards with 1,646. His 117.6 receiving yards per game is the sixth-best mark in history.
That year also had what he called the favorite moment of his career when he reached 200 receiving yards in back-to-back games. It was the first time it had ever been done in NFL history. He didn't just creep over the 200-yard mark, either. He had 237 yards one week and then 261 the next.
However, Gordon never came close to replicating those stats. He was suspended for 11 games in 2014 before missing the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons due to violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
He returned to the NFL in 2017 and bounced around in the years since then. At one point, he played with Tom Brady with the New England Patriots.
"It was an experience to get to be able to play with him but I enjoyed it," Gordon said. "He's a class act. He's one of the best professionals, best athletes of all time. The best athlete of all time if you asked me."
Gordon was on two NFL teams this fall. He was first on the Kansas City Chiefs before being waved ahead of the season. The Tennessee Titans then signed Gordon, and he played two games for them before being released.
Seattle drafted Gordon in the sixth round of the XFL Supplemental Draft in January. He said his favorite part of training camp was being able to put on his pads once again.
"Every time is different," Gordon said. "But this most recent time here, I think is definitely the most valuable because it's the most present. Living in the present and being available right, that's what's the most immediate concern to me and my family and the coaches here."
One of the ways that makes this experience different is Gordon said he is taking on a leadership role on the team and trying to serve as a mentor to others.
The Seattle wide receiver room has plenty of talent. It stands to reason watching a former NFL All-Pro receiver like Gordon at practice will have benefits.
Gordon is also relishing the chance to be a mentor to younger players.
"All of them have reached out in some type of way," Gordon said. "They've all kind of picked my brain a little bit. We all kind of sat down and chopped it up one on one a little bit here and there."
Among those wide receivers includes Jahcour Pearson, who was the league's top receiver in Week 1 with 12 receptions for 95 receiving yards.
Gordon also had a great day against the D.C. Defenders despite the 22-18 loss. He finished with six catches and 74 receiving yards and a touchdown.
"There's only so much opportunity to play football," Gordon said. "As long as I'm physically able to play football, I'm gonna be trying to capitalize on that."
Whether his journey leads to a return to the NFL is yet to be seen, Gordon said he wants to keep playing as long as he can but is right now focused on the XFL season.
He's not looking at personal accolades, either.
"We need the championship," Gordon said. "That's what were here for. We need the whole thing."
The Sea Dragons have their home opener Thursday against the St. Louis Battlehawks at 9 p.m. ET on FX and ESPN+.
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
