Former Super Bowl Winner Josh Gordon Set to Get Another Lifeline in the NFL

Josh Gordon has been notorious for his long history of substance abuse ever since he was 23. Despite being suspended five times from the league due to substance abuse, he is still in line to get back to the league and revive his career as a wide receiver.

Although after Gordan’s suspension by the league on accounts of substance abuse for the fifth time in December 2019, his reinstatement is in talks by the NFL again, after NFLPA gave a heads up on Josh’s completion of the treatment program. However, he will start off his 2021 season as a free agent only if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gives his final approval.

Josh Gordon may revive his days of glory

ESPN’s senior NFL Insider, Adam Schefter, in a tweet revealed, “NFLPA determined Josh Gordon has successfully completed his NFL-monitored treatment program and has recommended to the NFL that he be reinstated, per sources. Gordon is awaiting final approval from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but he is said to be ready to play and vaccinated.”

Although during his second season in the NFL as a 23-year-old wide receiver for the Browns. He astonished the critics with crazy stats as he caught 87 passes for a league-leading 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns, despite missing two games due to suspension.

List of Suspensions

Josh Gordon has also topped the charts of the NFL when it comes to the suspension on accounts of substance abuse. The 30-year-old wide receiver has only played in six seasons so far. During his career of about 8 years, Josh has faced six suspensions. Following is the timeline of his suspensions:

June 7, 2013 — Suspended for the first two games of the season with Browns on violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Aug. 27, 2014 — One full year of suspension due to the violation of NFL’s substance abuse policy for the second time.

Dec. 27, 2014 — One game suspension by the Browns for violating team rules.

Feb. 3, 2015 — Gets suspended by the NFL until the beginning of the 2016 season.

Dec. 20, 2018 — Suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, after he announces to step away from football to focus on mental health.

Dec. 16, 2019 — Suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substance of abuse.

If NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approves his reinstatement in the league, then he will do so as a free agent. And it’s up to his willpower to be disciplined enough for the rest of his career or face the same repercussions he did before.

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