Sonny Gordon Explained

Sonny Gordon
Number:31
Position:Defensive back
Birth Date:30 July 1965
Birth Place:Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death Place:Dublin, Ohio, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:192
High School:Middletown (Ohio)
College:Ohio State
Draftyear:1987
Draftround:6
Draftpick:157
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Pfr:GordSo20

Denman Preston Gordon (July 30, 1965 – April 26, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

Gordon was born in Lynn, Massachusetts,[1] but attended Middletown High School in Ohio. He was both a basketball and football standout, as well as president of his senior class.[2]

He played collegiately for the Ohio State Buckeyes,[3] where, as a senior, he was honored by Gannett News Service as a third-team All-American.[4]

Gordon was selected by his hometown Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL draft,[5] but was released at the final roster cuts. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and appeared in seven games for them.[1]

Gordon was out of professional football during the 1988 season, but joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL the following year. He appeared in 33 games for the Tiger-Cats, over the course of two seasons, recording four interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He finished his career playing a single season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1991.[6]

Gordon died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in Dublin, Ohio, on April 26, 2023. He was 57.[2] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sonny Gordon Stats . Pro-Football-Reference.com . March 9, 2020.
  2. Web site: Former Middletown High standout athlete, class president dies from ALS . Hamilton (OH) Journal-News . April 29, 2023 . May 25, 2024 . Yahoo Sports.
  3. Web site: Sonny Gordon Stats . NFL.com . May 25, 2024.
  4. News: Gannette (sic) News Service All-Americans . Iowa City Press-Citizen . December 2, 1986 . 2b . Newspapers.com.
  5. Web site: 1987 NFL Draft Listing . October 1, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  6. Web site: Sonny Gordon Stats . Pro Football Archives . May 25, 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113035602/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerg/gord01600.html . November 13, 2023.