Recently retired running back Melvin Gordon III, a two-time Pro Bowler and former first-round pick, shared candid insights into his career, admitting his regret over a pivotal contract dispute and revealing the Hall of Fame running back who shaped his mindset. Gordon officially ended his career by signing a one-day contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team that drafted him in 2015.
‘Flash’ Was Born in the Pros
The Pro Bowl runner clarified that his famous nickname, ‘Flash,’ was not a childhood moniker but was actually born during his rookie season in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.
“Really, they started calling me that in the league; honestly, in my rookie year. It’s crazy,” Gordon explained. “It just kind of went because it was ‘Flash Gordon’ and it just flowed really well and then the lightning bolt and then I was with the Chargers with the lightning bolt and so they just started calling me that and I just ran with it.”
Acknowledging the tradition that a player doesn’t choose their own moniker, he noted, “I mean, I was always a legend on the field so it made sense but you know, you really don’t make your own nicknames, they just kind of come to you.”
A Regretful Holdout
Gordon was open about his 2019 contract holdout with the Chargers, a decision that caused him to miss the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season before he eventually returned without a new deal.
When asked if he regretted the action, his answer was direct: “Yeah. Just because it’s yards that I could have had and touchdowns and yards that I could’ve helped my team. You never know the situation but I definitely do one hundred percent.”
Gordon missed out on crucial snaps and salary during the dispute, and the Chargers ultimately allowed him to walk in free agency the following year. His reflection highlights the complex business side of the sport and the personal toll such decisions can take.
Walter Payton: The Defining Influence
While Gordon grew up admiring stars like Barry Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Adrian Peterson, he reserves the top spot for Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton.
“Walter Payton was number #1 though for sure,” Gordon stated.
His connection to “Sweetness” is surprisingly personal. Gordon shared a touching story: “My mom took care of him when he was sick in the hospital which was crazy.” Inspired by his father’s adoration for Payton, Gordon immersed himself in the star’s career.
“I just fell in love with the way he played the game and I read his book Never Die Easy and was just watching his highlights and heard how great of a person he was, how much of an impact that he made on and off the field with people,” he recalled.
The legendary running back’s philosophy became Gordon’s own blueprint: “If I want to be a football player, THIS is the guy that I want to be! And the ‘Never Die Easy’ was just the way he ran. He never went down without a fight. He never gave up easily… that’s who I model my game after.”
A Rookie’s Surreal Moment
Despite sharing the field with many NFL greats over his nine-year career, Gordon said his most surreal moment came during his rookie year against the Detroit Lions.
“That moment for me was the first game when I got to see Calvin Johnson,” he said of the star wide receiver, who was then in his final season. “I just got to see him up close and I was like, ‘Bro… this is CRAZY. I’m sharing the field with Calvin Johnson right now!’ So that was kind of my surreal moment.”
Gordon, a former two-time Pro Bowl selection who amassed 6,543 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns, concludes his career having achieved the vision inspired by his idols, leaving behind a legacy defined by his tough running and ‘Never Die Easy’ style.
