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Dick Gordon (American football)

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Dick Gordon
No. 45, 5, 7, 88
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1944-01-01) January 1, 1944 (age 81)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Walnut Hills
(Cincinnati, Ohio)
College:Michigan State
NFL draft:1965: 7th round, 88th pick
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receiving yards:3,594
Receptions:243
Yards per reception:14.8
Receiving touchdowns:36
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

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Gordon was born on January 1, 1944, in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1] 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.[2][3][4][5]

College

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Gordon attended Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Michigan.[6] Gordon played football at running back for Michigan State, under College Football Hall of Fame coach Duffy Daugherty.[7][8]

He joined the team as a walk-on, as he did not have a football scholarship. Gordon did well on the freshman team, and was recognized as outstanding halfback at spring practice. He did not play enough the following year, however, to earn a letter as a sophomore. He again was little used on offense as a junior in 1963, with only eight rushing attempts in nine games; but did play more on defense as a junior, replacing injured defensive back Don Japinga and finally earning a varsity letter. His varsity career rushing totals at the end of his junior year were 58 yards on 14 carries.[6][4][7][8][9]

Gordon was given more of an opportunity as a senior in 1964, but had only 100 yards in 30 attempts over his first three games. In his fourth game of the year, against Indiana University, Gordon rushed for 81 yards; and the following week he had 105 yards against Northwestern.[6]

On October 31, Gordon ran for 199 yards on only 13 attempts against Wisconsin (15.3 yards per carry), including a 75-yard touchdown run and another run of 57 yards. This was the most rushing yardage in a game by a Spartan as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and second most in school history to Ron Rubick's 207 yards in 1962.[10] His teammate, and future NFL Pro Bowl receiver, Gene Washington also set a school receiving record that day.[11][10]

The week after the Wisconsin game he had 145 yards against Purdue, with four pass receptions, giving him 11 receptions on the seasons to go along with 630 yards rushing (after having no receptions in his prior years).[6][7] Daugherty attributed Gordon's blossoming to his improved concentration. Gordon himself believed he improved because the team's blocking improved, and because he altered his running style to make sure he kept his head up so he could have a broader view of developing plays and where he should be running.[6]

He finished the 1964 season with 741 yards in 123 attempts (six yards per carry) over nine games, and 13 receptions for 81 yards.[7] He was second to future 1971 Chicago Bears teammate Jim Grabowski in total rushing yards in the Big Ten that year, but his six yards per carry average was first in the Big Ten.[12][1][13] He also returned nine kickoffs for 201 yards.[14] 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.[14]

The Associated Press (AP) selected Gordon first-team All-Big Ten at halfback. He was one of only two unanimous choices on offense.[15] Gordon's teammates named him the team's Most Valuable Player in 1964.[9] He was selected to play in both the January 1965 East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl.[16][17][18]

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.[19]

Professional career

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Chicago Bears

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The Chicago Bears selected Gordon in the 7th 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.[20][21] 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.[22][23] As a rookie, Gordon started four games with only 13 receptions, but he averaged 21.5 yards per reception and had three touchdown catches.[1] In 1966, he started 12 games and had 15 receptions for 210 yards.[24]

In 1967, Gordon started all 14 games, with 31 receptions for 534 yards and five touchdown catches.[25] 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.[26] Concannon was Gordon’s roommate and closest friend on the team.[27] Gordon started 12 games each in 1968 and 1969, catching 29 and 36 passes, respectively.[1]

The best year of his career came in 1970, when he was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, the Newspaper Enterprise Association, the Pro Football Writers of America and Pro Football Weekly.[28] He was also named to the 1970 Pro Bowl.[29] Gordon led the NFL with 71 receptions and 13 receiving touchdowns. He was third in the NFL with 1,026 total receiving yards.[30]

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.[31] On November 15 against the Green Bay Packers, he had five receptions for a season-high 158 yards and a 69-yard touchdown reception.[32] The following week against the Buffalo Bills he caught six passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns.[33] In the Bears second game against the Packers that year, he had seven receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns;[34] 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.[35]

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.[36][37]

Later career

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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.[27][38]

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.[38] The Rams had already played four games by then. Further, Gordon was injured during the season with leg muscle pulls and broken ribs, and played in only four Rams games the entire year; with three receptions for 29 yards.[39][40][41]

Gordon played in the Rams first four games of 1973, when he suffered a dislocated shoulder on October 7 against the Houston Oilers.[42][43] 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.[42][40]

The Packers signed Gordon in 1973; however, he reinjured his shoulder and played in only two games, with no receptions.[42][44][45] In January 1974, the Packers traded Gordon to the New England Patriots for John Mosier.[46] The Patriots cut Gordon before the start of the 1974 season, and he was signed by the San Diego Chargers.[47] He played in seven games for the Chargers in 1974, starting three, with only two receptions for 15 yards.[48] The Chargers released Gordon in late October.[49] This was his last NFL season.[1]

Legacy and honors

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After playing his option year with the Bears in 1971, Gordon became a free agent on May 1, 1972. The lateness of his signing with the Rams on October 12 after the start of the 1972 campaign was due to the uncertainty of compensation that the Bears were to receive, as decided by Commissioner Pete Rozelle. The Rams sent a 1974 first-round selection (20th overall–Dave Gallagher) to the Bears as compensation; completing the last of only four times the NFL exercised the Rozelle rule. This rule allowed the commissioner to unilaterally and finally decide compensation one team must pay another for signing a player as a free agent from the former team; effectively deterring free agency by creating uncertainty and reluctance in signing free agents.[50][51][52][27] Gordon was one of the fifteen plaintiffs in Mackey v. National Football League in which Judge Earl R. Larson declared that the Rozelle rule was a violation of antitrust laws on December 30, 1975.[53]

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.[54][55][56]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Dick Gordon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Fischer, Pat (September 17, 1960). "Norwood 0, Walnut Hills 0". The Cincinnati Post. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Walnut Hills 24, Western Hills 6". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 15, 1960. p. 48.
  4. ^ a b Quinn, Joe (May 22, 1962). "Finneytown High Gets New Grid, Track Coach". The Cincinnati Post. p. 18.
  5. ^ "Walnut Beats McNicholas, 34–6". The Cincinnati Post. September 28, 1959. p. 24.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Gordon Flashes To Stardom as Big Ten's Best". The Grand Rapids Press. November 12, 1964. p. 53.
  7. ^ a b c d "Dick Gordon College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Duffy Daugherty (1984) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Name Dick Gordon". Chicago Tribune. November 24, 1964. p. 53.
  10. ^ a b Mintline, Doug (November 1, 1964). "Records Fall In MSU Win". The Flint Journal. p. 61.
  11. ^ "Gene Washington Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "1964 Big Ten Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  13. ^ "Jim Grabowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Bears Sign MSU's Top Halfback". The Grand Rapids Press. December 20, 1964. p. 34.
  15. ^ Mooshil, Joe (November 25, 1964). "Six Unanimous on All-Big Ten; Badgers Only Ones Shut Out". Marshfield News-Herald (Marshfield, Wisconsin). p. 20.
  16. ^ Associated Press (December 2, 1964). "Wells And Garcia In Shrine Tilt". Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana). p. 56.
  17. ^ Associated Press (January 9, 1965). "Hayes Helps More Than All Do-Gooders". The Miami Herald. p. 83.
  18. ^ Sturgeon, Kelso (January 9, 1965). "North Anti-Air Guns Aim at South Stars Today". The Miami Herald. p. 83.
  19. ^ Quinn, Joe (January 12, 1965). "Dick Gordon, Staubach finally get acquainted". The Cincinnati Post. p. 13.
  20. ^ "1965 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "NFL 100". NFL.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  22. ^ Associated Press (August 22, 1965). "Green Bay Rocks Bears In NFL Exhibit, 31–14". The Idaho Statesman. p. 17.
  23. ^ "Bears Pummel Rams, 31–6". Chicago Tribune. October 11, 1965. pp. Section 3 1, 4.
  24. ^ "1966 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  25. ^ "1967 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  26. ^ Strickler, George (November 20, 1967). "Concannon, Bears Bomb St. Louis, 30–3". Chicago Tribune. pp. Section 3, 1–2.
  27. ^ a b c Larkin, Will. "Ranking the best Bears players ever, #55 Dick Gordon". digitaledition.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  28. ^ "1970 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  29. ^ "1970 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  30. ^ "1970 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  31. ^ "Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions - October 5th, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  32. ^ "Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers - November 15th, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  33. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears - November 22nd, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  34. ^ "Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears - December 13th, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  35. ^ "Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints - December 20th, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  36. ^ "1971 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  37. ^ "1971 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  38. ^ a b Associated Press (October 13, 1972). "Rams sign Gordon, Bears scream unfair". Daily News-Post (Monrovia, California). p. 10.
  39. ^ "1972 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  40. ^ a b Associated Press (November 8, 1973). "Rams Cut Gordon; Packers Nab Him". Santa Curz Sentinel. p. 20.
  41. ^ Roberts, Rich (July 17, 1973). "Bertelsen returns to thin backfield". Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California). p. 24.
  42. ^ a b c "Dick Gordon 1973 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  43. ^ Hall, John (October 8, 1973). "Jack's 'Snow Job' Slickers Houston, Set Up Key TD". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Part III, 1, 8.
  44. ^ Associated Press (November 30, 1973). "Gordon, MacLeod Only Packers to Miss Saints' Game Sunday". West Bend News (West Bend, Wisconsin). p. 6.
  45. ^ Associated Press (November 28, 1973). "Fog adds to Packer Woes". The Journal Times (Racine, Wisconsin). p. 21.
  46. ^ Associated Press (January 30, 1974). "Pack Hires Aide, Peddles Gordon". The Waukesha County Freeman. p. 10.
  47. ^ Associated Press (September 5, 1974). "Dick Gordon Signs With San Diego". The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington). p. 3.
  48. ^ "1974 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  49. ^ Associated Press (October 30, 1974). "Bartender takes Dick Gordon's place". The Billings Gazette. p. 11.
  50. ^ Mackey v. National Football League, 407 F. Supp. 1000 (D. Minn. 1975) – Justia.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  51. ^ Goldaper, Sam. "Personalities: Jackson Loses His Zip," The New York Times, Friday, October 13, 1972. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  52. ^ 1974 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 29 (Rounds 1–5) & 30 (Rounds 6–17) – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  53. ^ Wallace, William N. "Rozelle Rule Found In Antitrust Violation," The New York Times, Wednesday, December 31, 1975. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  54. ^ Perez, Bryan. "NFL 100: Best players in Chicago Bears history". Bears Wire. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  55. ^ Potash, Mark (September 5, 2019). "The 100 Greatest Bears of All Time". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  56. ^ "Ranking best Bears of all time: Nos 1-25". www.chicagobears.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
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