Josh Gordon: The Comeback Story

By David Toronto
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Josh Gordon was on the streets, lost, with his dreams crushed. Gordon learned the hard way when it came to drug usage, as it destroyed his Pro football career. But that never stopped Gordon from clawing and fighting his way back into the NFL spotlight.

Josh Gordon was on the streets, lost, with his dreams crushed. Gordon learned the hard way when it came to drug usage, as it destroyed his Pro football career. But that never stopped Gordon from clawing and fighting his way back into the NFL spotlight.
Gordon had it all in his 2013-2014 NFL season. The Cleveland Browns wide receiver had 1,643 receiving yards, a pro bowl appearance, and even a spot on the NFL’s All-Pro team. The sky was the limit for Gordon, but alcohol and drugs stopped his rise to fame right in its tracks. In Gordon’s 2013 season, he was suspended for two games for violating the league's substance abuse policy, but that was only the beginning for Gordon.     
The very next season Gordon was hit with a full one-year suspension, for driving under the influence in Raleigh, North Carolina. Glenelg Junior Pierce Pusheck says, “Josh Gordon was a super fun player to watch, you never would have thought that he was battling drug addiction.” Gordon has been dealing with drug problems ever since middle school. There have been reports of Gordon sneaking Xanax, marijuana, and codeine into his middle school in Houston, Texas. So, when Gordon received his long suspension, he had lots of free time, and lots of time to make mistakes.    
 The following NFL season Gordon hit rock bottom. Gordon was again suspended for the entire season. Gordon was again suspended for driving under the influence, and this time the NFL wasn't taking any of Gordon’s excuses. When Gordon applied to be reinstated into the NFL, the NFL denied Gordon’s appeal. Gordon was out of the NFL for good.
Gordon was devastated. He was genuinely sick and had a problem that needed to be fixed. Gordon even said himself, “Getting kicked out [of the NFL] was the best thing that has ever happened to me.” So Gordon decided to enroll himself into a 30-day rehab program in New Hampshire. Glenelg Junior Massimo Conti said, “I was really rooting for Flash Gordon (Gordon’s nickname), he is a very special talent, and I drafted him in fantasy football that year.” Gordon kept a low profile until June 2015 when he replied to the NFL. This time, the NFL had faith in Gordon and decided to reinstate him into the NFL.     
The NFL specifically told Gordon he would be on a short leash, so any mess up would cost Gordon his career. Instead of going back to the NFL, Gordon went back to rehab for a three-month stint, with intentions to stay clean this time. Glenelg Junior Logan O'Connell said, “ I’m a Browns fan, but I was not mad when Gordon stepped away from football, health is everything and if you don’t feel like you should play, you shouldn’t simple as that.” Gordon’s story is a good example of what not to do. Abusive substances and drugs are very dangerous, and destroy lives every day. Gordon made his story public to show the kids that look up to him, or fans in general, that drugs are not to be messed with. Former drug addict, and local resident of Cleveland, John Billsby said, “I love Josh Gordon’s story, I wish I could have impacted as many people as he did with my own story. Gordon has saved lives.”     
Since 2015 Gordon has had one relapse. Also, in the 2018-2019 offseason, Gordon was traded to the six-time Super Bowl champs, the New England Patriots. Gordon is now the number two receiver on the depth chart, and looking to get back to his old self in the dynamic Patriot offense.
All in all, the story of Josh Gordon will resonate with the NFL and its fans for a very long time. It is quite possible that nobody has gone through as much adversity and trouble than Josh Gordon has. Gordon is the definition of a comeback story, but with Gordon only being 28 years old, he is looking to fill up a couple more pages of his story.