Josh Gordon Quits From Football, Patriots

Josh Gordon decided to put an end to his tenure with the New England Patriots. This was a rather surprising twist in his career.

Many thought that Josh Gordon will play with the Patriots for really long. However, the wide receiver made a decision and announced it on Thursday morning. Gordon said his mental health is not where it needs to be for him to give his best. In his statement, Josh Gordon thanked the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft for everything they did for him.

“I take my mental health very seriously at this point to ensure I remain able to perform at the highest level. I have recently felt like I could have a better grasp on things mentally. With that said, I will be stepping away from the football field for a bit to focus on my mental health. I would like to thank Coach Belichick, Mr. Kraft, as well as countless others within the Patriots organization for their continued support. I want to thank my fans for their support as well as I continue down the path getting back to 100%,” Gordon wrote in his statement.

New England acquired the receiver through a trade deal with the Cleveland Browns. Gordon is talented, but his troubled past got the Browns worried. The receiver was accused of substance abuse, and the NFL suspended him a number of times. Gordon is battling with mental health. He was suspended for 10 games in 2014, and missed 2015 and 2016. He came back in Week 13 in 2017.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that Gordon faces an indefinite suspension for violating the term of his reinstatement under the PEDs abuse policy. That’s why he decided to leave the game and focus on his mental condition.