Sonny Gordon

Sonny Gordon
No. 31, 18, 16
Position:	Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	July 30, 1965; Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:	April 26, 2023 (aged 57); Dublin, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:	Middletown (Ohio)
College:	Ohio State
NFL draft:	1987 / round: 6 / pick: 157
Career history
	Cincinnati Bengals (1987)*; Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987); Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1989–1990); Saskatchewan Roughriders (1991);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	Third-team All-American (1986); First-team All-Big Ten (1986);
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

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]

References

^ ^a ^b "Sonny Gordon Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Former Middletown High standout athlete, class president dies from ALS". Hamilton (OH) Journal-News. April 29, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2024 – via Yahoo Sports.
^ "Sonny Gordon Stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
^ "Gannette (sic) News Service All-Americans". Iowa City Press-Citizen. December 2, 1986. p. 2b – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1987 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Sonny Gordon Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

[PFR1-1] "Sonny Gordon Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.

[HJN-2] "Former Middletown High standout athlete, class president dies from ALS". Hamilton (OH) Journal-News. April 29, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2024 – via Yahoo Sports.

[NFL-3] "Sonny Gordon Stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

[GNS_1986-4] "Gannette (sic) News Service All-Americans". Iowa City Press-Citizen. December 2, 1986. p. 2b – via Newspapers.com.

[PFR2-5] "1987 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.

[PFA-6] "Sonny Gordon Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

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