Dick Gordon

Richard Frederick Gordon (born January 1, 1944) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and San Diego Chargers.

Early life Gordon was born on January 1, 1944, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father was a physical education instructor. Gordon attended Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, where he was a halfback on the football team, and was also a member of the baseball team.

College career Gordon attended Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Michigan. Gordon played football at running back for Michigan State, under College Football Hall of Fame coach Duffy Daugherty. His teammate, and future NFL Pro Bowl receiver, Gene Washington also set a school receiving record that day. He also returned nine kickoffs for 201 yards. He was timed to have run the 100-yard dash in 9.6 seconds while at Michigan State, and also was considered a fine defensive back. Gordon's teammates named him the team's Most Valuable Player in 1964. He was selected to play in both the January 1965 East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl.

Gordon's quarterback on the East team in the Shrine game was the Naval Academy's Roger Staubach. Staubach had attended Purcell High School in Cincinnati, less than one mile from Gordon's Walnut Hills school; but the two had never met until coming to San Francisco for the Shrine game. Staubach completed a 38-yard pass to Gordon, setting up the East's only touchdown in the game.

Professional career

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears selected Gordon in the seventh round of the 1965 NFL draft, 88th overall. This was the same draft in which the Bears selected future NFL greats Dick Butkus (3rd overall pick) and Gale Sayers (4th overall pick) in the first round. Although a running back in college, the Bears immediately used Gordon as a receiver in their 1965 training camp, and then into the regular season. As a rookie, Gordon started four games with only 13 receptions, but he averaged 21.5 yards per reception and had three touchdown catches.

In 1967, Gordon started all 14 games, with 31 receptions for 534 yards and five touchdown catches. In a November 19 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Gordon caught two touchdown passes from Jack Concannon of 93 and 67 yards against defensive back Pat Fischer, and was given the game ball. Concannon was Gordon's roommate and closest friend on the team. Gordon started 12 games each in 1968 and 1969, catching 29 and 36 passes, respectively. He was also named to the 1970 Pro Bowl. Gordon led the NFL with 71 receptions and 13 receiving touchdowns. He was third in the NFL with 1,026 total receiving yards.

Among his outstanding 1970 games, on October 5 against the Detroit Lions he had four receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard touchdown reception. On November 15 against the Green Bay Packers, he had five receptions for a season-high 158 yards and a 69-yard touchdown reception. The following week against the Buffalo Bills he caught six passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. In the Bears second game against the Packers that year, he had seven receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns; and in the final game of the season against the New Orleans Saints, he had a season-high nine receptions, for 119 yards and a touchdown.

He had one more Pro Bowl season for the Bears in 1971, with 43 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns. United Press International (UPI) named him second-team All-NFC.

Later career Gordon had a tense relationship with the Bears' front office during his years with the team, ranging from contract negotiations, his interest in players' rights, his playing habits, his hair and even his wardrobe. Gordon had held out for a time before the 1971 season, in which he ultimately played for the Bears, but played out his option. After the season ended, Gordon and Bears' owner George Halas criticized each other in the media. In 1972, he held out again, and ultimately joined the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent.

Gordon's move to the Rams was not complete until Commissioner Pete Rozelle decided on the compensation the Rams had to provide the Bears, on October 12, 1972.

Gordon played in the Rams first four games of 1973, when he suffered a dislocated shoulder on October 7 against the Houston Oilers. He only played in one more game for the Rams before being cut on November 7. He had no receptions in his five Rams games that year, with one rushing attempt and three kickoff returns. In January 1974, the Packers traded Gordon to the New England Patriots for John Mosier. The Patriots cut Gordon before the start of the 1974 season, and he was signed by the San Diego Chargers. He played in seven games for the Chargers in 1974, starting three, with only two receptions for 15 yards. The Chargers released Gordon in late October. This was his last NFL season.

In 2019, the Bears' 100th anniversary, he was selected as one of the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time by a number of sources, including the Bears team.

NFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1965 CHI 14 4 13 279 21.5 51 3 1966 CHI 14 12 15 210 14.0 40 1 1967 CHI 14 14 31 534 17.2 93 5 1968 CHI 14 12 29 477 16.4 51 4 1969 CHI 14 12 36 414 11.5 41 4 1970 CHI 14 14 71 1,026 14.5 69 13 1971 CHI 13 12 43 610 14.2 45 5 1972 RAM 5 4 3 29 9.7 17 1 1973 GB 2 0 Did not record any stats RAM 5 0 Did not record any stats 1974 SD 7 3 2 15 7.5 17 0 Career 115 83 243 3,594 14.8 93 36